Short notes on Physical properties and uses of Beryl

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Chemical composition: Be₃Al, Si _{() lg}; small amount of Na, Rb and Li may substitute for be; H., 0 and CO, may occur within rings.

Physical properties:

(i) Form: Hexagonal prism or columnar aggregates.

(ii) Colour: Colourless, bluish-green, emerald-green, golden-yellow, pink, white.

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(iii) Lustre: Vitreous.

(iv) Streak: White.

(v) Hardness: 7-8.

(vi) Cleavage: Indistinct.

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(vii) Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven.

(viii) Specific gravity: 2.7 – 2.9.

(ix) Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent.

Use:

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Beryl is the major source of beryllium, which is made alloy with copper resulting in increase of hardness, tensile strength and fatigue resistance of copper. Emerald, transparent and emerald-green (pale green) and aquamarine, transparent pale blue varieties of beryl are used as gemstones.