Morganite
Morganites belong to the beryl family. They are the pink variety of it. The coloring element is manganese. The name beryl comes from the Greek. From the word “berylos” and the Latin “beryllus” the word “beryl” has survived to this day and is the eponym of “glasses”.
Morganite, Brazil (61.76 ct)
Class: Silicates
Genesis: Pegmatitic (Magmatic)
Colors: Pink to orange
Hardness: 8
Optical effects: Rare cat eye effect
Most important occurrences: Brazil, Mozambique, Nigeria, Afghanistan (Morganites are formed in pegmatitic areas).
As early as the Middle Ages, colorless beryls were beaten and polished in such a way that they could serve as “magnifying glasses”. In a time when paper was scarce and letters were closely written, this was necessary.
The name Morganite comes from the famous gemologist and New York banker Jean Pierpont Morgan, which early bridges the gap between the financial and gemstone sectors.
The interesting thing is that the pink beryls worth grinding occur in pegmatites. The deposits are steadily dwindling, even from the main supplier country Brazil the raw material is scarce and prices are rising. There is also less and less material in good qualities from Mozambique and Nigeria.
