2.1" Aquamarine/Morganite Crystal in Albite Crystal Matrix - Pakistan

Aquamarine/Morganite Crystal in Albite Crystal Matrix - Pakistan #111362

This is a 2.1" wide albite crystal matrix that contains a bi-colored beryl crystal from Baltistan, Pakistan. The aquamarine has sky-blue coloration towards its termination and at its center is morganite. A unique characteristic of beryl from this location is that it will often be sky blue at its ends/terminations (beryl var. aquamarine) and fade to a faint magenta color towards its center (beryl var. morganite).

The longest measurement of the largest aquamarine crystal is .94" long.

Aquamarine is a blue-green variety of beryl. Oddly enough, it owes its color to iron(II) and iron(III) cations within the crystal lattice, of which iron(II) is responsible for the blue color, while iron(III) is responsible for the yellow color. The color vibrance and hue are dependent on the concentration of these cations, or lack of one or the other. The presence of both cations in the right position within the crystal lattice, can result in a deep blue colored crystal that is known as "maxixe".

Morganite is a pink variety of beryl that is also known as "pink beryl". It earns its color from manganese(II) cations within the crystal lattice. Often these crystals contain yellow or orange coloration, sometimes presenting a variety of colors in banded fashion.

Albite is a plagioclase feldspar mineral with the chemical composition Na(AlSi3O8) in its pure form. It is a major component of granite and granitic pegmatites, and often forms in association with quartz, orthoclase, muscovite, hornblende and biotite. In most cases the crystals are white to colorless, although it can display red, green and blue hues depending on impurities present during formation. Albite earned its name from the Latin word "albus", meaning white, its most common color.

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