Morganite

Evening bag
MFA# 2008.1331

Description

Beryl (var. Morganite)
Image: Rob Lavinsky [irock.com]

A rose colored transparent Beryl that is used as a gemstone. Morganite is composed of a beryllium aluminum silicate. Ranging in color from a rose-pink to a rose-red, morganite is mined in Madagascar.

Synonyms and Related Terms

IR-ATR (RRUFF)

Raman (RRUFF)

morganita, berilo rosa (Esp.); morganite (Fr.)

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Hexagonal system with prismatic crystals usually striated lengthwise
• Cleavage is poor in one direction
• Fracture = uneven to conchoidal
• Luster = vitreous
• Streak = colorless
• Pleochroism = weak
• Fluorescence = none to weak pink (LW and SW)
• Synthetic stones may appear opaque and dull red under long UV light.

Composition	Be3Al2(SiO3)6
Mohs Hardness	7.5 - 8.0
Density	2.68-2.83 g/ml
Refractive Index	1.57 - 1.60
Birefringence	0.007 - 0.008

Comparisons

Properties of Common Gemstones

Resources and Citations

• Gem Identification Lab Manual, Gemological Institute of America, 2016.
• Wikipedia: Morganite Accessed Dec 2022
• Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971