Emeralds are one of the most valuable stones on the planet.
Emerald comes from the Greek word "smaragods," which means green stone, according to Cochise College. Emeralds are found in dark green, yellowish green, light green and sometimes in bluish tones. Small amounts of vanadium and chromium found in emeralds give them their color. Does this Spark an idea?
History
Cleopatra mines in northern Egypt were the first emerald mines and existed from approximately 330 B.C. to the 1700s. Cleopatra commonly used emeralds for her royal adornments, according to the Gemological Institute of America.
Geography
Emeralds are found throughout the world in places including Colombia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Russia, Australia, Ghana, Afghanistan, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, North Carolina, Austria, Norway and Mozambique, according to Gem Select.
Hardness
Emeralds belong to the beryllium mineral family and range in hardness from seven to eight on the Mohs hardness scale, according to All About Emeralds. Emeralds are not as hard as diamonds, sapphires or rubies.
Birthstone
Emeralds are the birthstone for May and are linked to spring, rebirth and fertility.
Chemical Formula
The chemical formula for emerald is Al2Be3Si6O18, according to Mapsofworld.com.
Fun Fact
The largest emerald in North America was found in North Carolina and weighs close to 65 carats, according to the Huffington Post.
Tags: Emeralds found, North Carolina
