Beryl (variety Emerald), Muzo, Columbia

While most beryl crystals formed in igneous rock bodies, like pegmatites, the world's best emeralds, however, hail from a sedimentary rock formation in Columbia. Black shales are common worldwide, yet those near Muzo, Columbia contain faults that brought hot brines from deeper within the earth. These brines helped carry beryllium and chromium up to the shales where complicated geochemical reactions took place to create emeralds of exceptional blue-green colour. Our specimen shows a pair of intergrown emerald crystals, along with calcite and pyrite, in brecciated black shale. This is a classic combination in a large piece with presence. The best emerald has great colour with sharp, undamaged crystal edges while the other, still with great colour, is a little more rounded yet also complete. Affordable, attractive emerald-in-matrix specimens are a rarity. There are many low quality emerald specimens on the market but this piece should be very competitively priced. From Muzo, Western Boyaca Province, Boyaca Department, Columbia. Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 11 cm (the main emerald crystal is 1.75 x 2.25 cm) SOLD