Chrysoberyl

specimen number:
2262024

location:
Colatina, Espirito Santo, Brazil

description:
Classic loose yellow green lustrous translucent twinned crystal of chrysoberyl. In good condition, a fine thumbnail from this classic locality.

Colatina, located in the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil, is a world-famous locality for exceptional specimens of twinned chrysoberyl. Geologically, these crystals originate from complex granitic pegmatites and associated alluvial deposits within the Ribeira Fold Belt. The chrysoberyl formed under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions as beryllium-rich fluids interacted with aluminum-bearing host rocks. The locality is specifically renowned for its cyclic trilling twins, where three individual crystals intergrow to form a distinct hexagonal or star-shaped appearance with prominent striations and a waxy to vitreous luster. Historically, the peak of production for these specialized mineral specimens occurred during the mid-20th century, particularly from the 1940s through the 1970s, as independent miners known as garimpeiros worked the secondary gravels and primary pegmatite veins. While Colatina remains an important geographic reference for the species, large-scale commercial output of these world-class twins has significantly decreased in recent decades, making historic specimens highly coveted by collectors for their geometric perfection and historical pedigree.

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