Beryl

specimen number:
2063403

location:
Wah Wah Mts., Juab Co., Utah, USA

description:
Classic Utah thumbnail specimen, this a partially gemmy lustrous prismatic purplish red crystal of beryl forming a cluster with a much smaller crystal attached near the base and minor rhyolite matrix. In great condition.

Situated within the western portion of Juab and Beaver counties in Utah, the Wah Wah Mountains consist of Tertiary-age volcanic rocks, including the Topaz Mountain Rhyolite formation. Approximately eighteen to twenty million years ago, fluorine-rich rhyolitic magma erupted and trapped beryllium-bearing gases in cooling cavities, creating the rare conditions necessary to crystallize red beryl, a scarce crimson variety of beryl coloured by trace manganese. First discovered in 1904 by mineral collector Maynard Bixby, the locality gained national prominence through commercial surface mining at the Ruby Violet claims starting in the 1950s. Today, specimens from this site remain among the most valuable and highly sought-after mineral treasures in the world due to the absolute rarity of gem-quality red beryl crystals.

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