Beryl

specimen number:
2063144

location:
Violet Claims, Wah Wah Mts., Utah, USA

description:

This is an excellent thumbnail for this north American classic. A lustrous purplish red partly gemmy terminated crystal of beryl is set perfectly up on a rhyolite matrix. In great condition as seen.

The Violet Claims in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah represent the world's only significant commercial source of gem-quality red beryl. Geologically, the area formed through Tertiary-age volcanic activity where topaz-bearing rhyolite flows were fractured during cooling, allowing high-temperature fluorine-rich vapor phases to deposit rare minerals along cavity walls and joints. The striking red coloration results from trace amounts of manganese incorporated during crystallization. First discovered in the early twentieth century, the deposit has seen various mineral exploration projects, small-scale underground operations, and open-pit mining efforts. Today, the site remains intensely sought after by mineral collectors and mining companies alike, making its rare crystal specimens among the most prized and valuable gemstones on earth.

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