Red Beryl, aka Bixbite

Some information about Red Beryl, Red Emerald, Bixbite 

 

Red Beryl (Bixbite) Crystal

 

Red Beryl is the rarest form of beryl, which includes other Beryl family minerals such as Emerald, Aquamarine, Morganite, Heliodor, Goshenite. The only Red Beryl crystals suitable for faceting were found in the Wah Wah Mountains (the Ruby / Violet Claims), near Beaver, Utah. Currently, this is the only place in the world where gem quality Red Beryl was found. Approximately two years ago, about 80 miles from the these world famous claims, another location was discovered in another mountain range. Still little is known about this deposit, however the quality of crystals I have seen are top notch. 
 
Red beryl or bixbite was first described in 1904 based on a discovery at Maynard's Claim in the Thomas Mountains in western Utah, USA. It was named after Maynard Bixby (1853-1935), an American mineralogist. The name bixbite has now been deprecated by CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, to avoid confusion with another mineral, bixbyite, also named after Maynard Bixby, however is is still fairly commonly used. The small crystals were found in a rhyolite host rock and were translucent but rarely gemmy. It wasn't until the late 1950's that larger, better quality crystals were found in the Wah Wah Mountains in Beaver County. Consistent mining of the Red Beryl in the Wah Wah Mountains has only taken place since 1978.

Red Beryl occurs as hexagonal crystals which is typical of beryls. The refractive index is 1.564-1.574 and the specific gravity is 2.66-2.70. It's primary chemical composition is Be3Al2SiO3, but there are traces of many other elements.

Red Beryl is thought to have formed along fractures, in cavities or within the host rhyolite from a high-temperature gas or vapor phase released during the latter stages of cooling and crystallization of the rhyolite magma. Rhyolites ordinarily lack gem minerals and beryls of any sort is extremely uncommon, therefore the presence of Red Beryl suggests some unusual conditions for gemstone formation.

The annual yield of red beryl from the mines is only about 5,000 to 7,000 carats a year, when they are actively being worked. The gem has been marketed as "red emerald," (this name is misleading) and touts it as one of the rarest gemstones in the world.  Prices can run as high as $10,000 a carat for top clarity cut gemstones. Most red beryl gemstones are under 1/2 a carat in weight, and 2 to 3 carat stone would be considered very large and have a value of over $20K per carat for top clarity gems.

Some of the red gems being sold in the market as red beryl or bixbite are actually Pezzottaite, a new gem variety discovered in Madagascar. Pezzottaite is also very rare -- but not yet as valuable as bixbite -- but is a different mineral altogether, with a different chemical composition, density and refractive index. A new find of pezzottaite in Afghanistan has made this new gemstone more widely available. Red beryl is so rare that it is wise to always insist on certification from a recognized gemological lab when buying this gemstone, since there is also much in the way of lab grown synthetic gems in the market.

 

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Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite Matrix, Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

$499.99

Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite Matrix, Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

Product Code: rbv14

$499.99

Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite Matrix Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah 3.46 cm x 2.97 cm x 1.90 cm   Here is a really nice specimen of red beryl in rhyolite matrix. The single large crystal measures 14 mm x 8 mm. It has great color and is a mix of included and transparent areas. It has great hexagonal form, but is only partially exposed, and is terminated o… More info

Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite Matrix Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah 3.46 cm x 2.97 cm x 1.90 cm   Here is a really nice specimen of red beryl in rhyolite matrix. The single large crystal measures 14 mm x 8 mm. It has great color and is a mix of included and transparent areas. It has great hexagonal form, but is only partially exposed, and is terminated o… More info

Large Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite, Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

$749.99

Large Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite, Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

Product Code: rbv12

$749.99

Large Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah 4.25 cm x 3.32 cm x 1.90 cm   Here is a great specimen of red beryl in rhyolite matrix. Commonly refered to as "Bubble gum", these large types of red beryl crystals are rhyolite included. It is believed that the amount of rhyolite inclusion is what helps crystals such as this gain t… More info

Large Red Beryl Crystal on Rhyolite Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah 4.25 cm x 3.32 cm x 1.90 cm   Here is a great specimen of red beryl in rhyolite matrix. Commonly refered to as "Bubble gum", these large types of red beryl crystals are rhyolite included. It is believed that the amount of rhyolite inclusion is what helps crystals such as this gain t… More info

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 7 Crystals, 5.38 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

$939.99

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 7 Crystals, 5.38 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

Product Code: rb538

$939.99

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 7 Crystals, 5.38 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah   Here are 7 crystals of Red Beryl. Red Beryl such as these come from only one place in the world, the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah. These are nice crystals, the largest being 10.0 mm and the smallest is 3.5 mm. All have at least one good termination. Th… More info

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 7 Crystals, 5.38 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah   Here are 7 crystals of Red Beryl. Red Beryl such as these come from only one place in the world, the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah. These are nice crystals, the largest being 10.0 mm and the smallest is 3.5 mm. All have at least one good termination. Th… More info

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 8 Crystals, 9.68 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

$1,451.99

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 8 Crystals, 9.68 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

Product Code: rbk968

$1,451.99

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 8 Crystals, 9.68 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah   Here are 8 crystals of Red Beryl. These crystals measure around 4 mm to 6.5 mm in length. All but two have good top termination. They have beautiful coloring, from pinkish red to deep red, and shift depending on the lighting type. … More info

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 8 Crystals, 9.68 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah   Here are 8 crystals of Red Beryl. These crystals measure around 4 mm to 6.5 mm in length. All but two have good top termination. They have beautiful coloring, from pinkish red to deep red, and shift depending on the lighting type. … More info

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 9 Crystals, 15.52 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

$3,879.99

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 9 Crystals, 15.52 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah

Product Code: rbk1552

$3,879.99

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 9 Crystals, 15.52 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah   Here are 9 crystals of Red Beryl. These crystals measure around 5 mm to 9 mm in length. All have at least one good termination end. They have beautiful coloring, from pinkish red to deep red, and shift depending on the lighting ty… More info

Beryl var. Red Beryl, 9 Crystals, 15.52 ctw., Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah   Here are 9 crystals of Red Beryl. These crystals measure around 5 mm to 9 mm in length. All have at least one good termination end. They have beautiful coloring, from pinkish red to deep red, and shift depending on the lighting ty… More info

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