Gemstone Glossary

Goshenite

Named after its original location in Goshen, Massachusetts U.S., Goshenite (a gemstone and a source of beryllium) is a variety name applied to colorless beryl, the "mother of gemstones". Occurring in a variety if colors, all transparent beryl varieties are used as gemstones. Interestingly, pure beryl is colorless, with traces of different impurities being responsible for this gemstone's great color range. Since beryl's color varieties are caused by impurities and pure beryl is colorless, it might seem apt to assume that Goshenite is the purest variety of beryl available. However, as there are several elements that act as a color inhibitor in beryl, this assumption may not always be true. While commonly used in gemstone markets, the name Goshenite has been said to be on its way to extinction.



Apart from Goshenite, gemstone color varieties that belong to beryl with specific names are emerald, morganite, heliodor, bixbite and aquamarine, with other colors of beryl being simply referred to by their color (i.e. golden beryl and red beryl etc.). Interestingly, all the variety names are generally accepted, except for Bixbite, which is not recognized by some authorities.

Available as faceted gems, Goshenite has a hardness of 7.5 - 8, a refractive index of 1.57 - 1.60, a hexagonal crystal system, a weak pleochronic and a poor one directional cleavage. Beryl (Goshenite) is famous for their perfect, six-sided prismatic hexagon crystals that usually occur individually. These are often enormous and some 30-foot (8 meter), well-crystallized examples are known to have existed.

All beryl varieties (including Goshenite) can be faceted into various gem cuts. Massive chunks of transparent beryl, usually morganite and heliodor are sometimes carved into ornamental figures. Furthermore, perfect, transparent, six-sided crystals are occasionally worn uncut as necklace pendants.

While Goshenite is found to some extent in almost all beryl localities, sources include North and South America, Northern Europe, East Africa, South Africa, Himalayan Asia, and most notably, Colombia.