Emerald

The gemstone Emerald belongs to the beryl group and is the most precious variety of beryl. The other varieties of beryl are Aquamarine, Morganite, Red and Green beryl, Heliodor, Maxixe, and Goshenite. Emerald derives its colour from the element chrome, while green beryl is coloured by vanadium. The colouring agent chrome is oftentimes distributed unevenly throughout the gemstone and as such there are often varying shades of green within a given stone. The element chrome is very stable when exposed to light and as such Emerald is not sensitive to sunlight. Emerald has a hardness of 7.5 – 8 on Moh`s scale of hardness, which is quite high but this gemstone is brittle. As such heat treatments are never applied as the stone will crack and shatter. Instead, it is typically treated with oil to fill microscopic fissures that reach the surface. This treatment is superficial and is done to improve the gem’s clarity. There is no treatment for large fissures which do not reach the surface. Due to its brittle nature, a step cut was developed to truncate the corners with facets. This cut became known as the emerald cut. Emeralds that are particularly clouded are called Turbid stones. These are typically used for cabochons or made into beads for necklaces. These clouds of inclusions are often called Jardin, which is French for Garden because they resemble moss or a garden and are not classified as faults. But rather used as evidence of the genuineness of the stone compared to synthetic gemstones.

History

The earliest known Emerald mines were in Marsa Alam, Egypt and date back as far as 1500 BC. Mining took place on Mount Smarsgdus ( Emerald Mountain ), which would later become known as the Cleopatra Emerald Mine. The stone was highly prized by the Pharaohs, it symbolised the flooding of the Nile, fertility and immortality. Cleopatra had a particular fondness for the stone. She used it in jewellery and to decorate her palaces lavishly. She would also give visiting dignitaries gifts of Emeralds containing intaglios of her own image. Cleopatra’s mines were also extensively mined by the Romans. These mines stayed in use till the early 16th century, after which they were abandoned until being rediscovered in 1816 by Frederic Cailiaud a French naturalist and mineralogist.
Emeralds were first discovered in Colombia by Don Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada in 1538. He discovered the mines in the Muzo area which is in the western Boyaca region of Colombia. The Muzo mines were in operation for at least 500 years before the Spaniards arrived in Colombia. The Inca and Aztec people mined Emeralds at Muzo and used the gemstone in jewellery and religious rituals. Today Colombia is the world’s largest producer of Emeralds. Emeralds were also mined in Austria from the Habachtal deposit. The Habachtal deposit was historically the main source of Emerald in Europe. It is believed to have been mined by the Celts and the Romans as far back as 800 BC. Emerald originating from the Habachtal deposit, have been found in the ruins of Pompeii. The Habachtal Mine has remained in almost continuous use right up to the present day. Mining still continues there on a small scale, producing specimens for private collectors.

Folklore

Throughout history, the Emerald gemstone has been seen as a symbol of truth, eloquence, and foresight. It was believed to have the ability to reveal the truth. Allowing the wearer to see through spells or illusions, it was also said to reveal whether a lover was speaking the truth or not. The stone’s beautiful calming green colour was believed to have a soothing effect on your eyes. For this reason, it was common practice for gem cutters to keep a piece of Emerald to occasionally look at while cutting other gemstones to alleviate their tired eyes. The Emerald stone was often called the stone of prophecy and believed to have the ability to influence visions. People would keep the stone near their bed at night as they slept believing it would help them to have insightful dreams.
The Romans believed that Emerald was the sacred stone of the goddess Venus, the goddess of love. The stone was said to protect lovers from unfaithfulness and to bring loyalty and unconditional love to the wearer. The Romans also believed the stone to be a powerful source of protection against evil. In the presence of evil or falsehood, the stone is said to change colour and turn pale.

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