BERYLLONITE Meaning and
Definition
-
Beryllonite is a rare and valuable mineral that occurs as a colorless or white crystalline form of beryllium phosphate. It is typically found in granitic pegmatites, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks formed from slowly cooling magma. The mineral is named after the element beryllium and the Greek word "lithos," meaning stone. Beryllonite has a chemical composition of Be(PO4), consisting of beryllium, phosphorus, and oxygen.
In its purest form, beryllonite is transparent and shares similarities in appearance with quartz. It possesses a vitreous to pearly luster, making it somewhat glossy in appearance. The crystal structure of beryllonite is monoclinic, and it often forms prismatic or tabular crystals. These crystals can exhibit various habits and may be terminated with pointed or flat faces.
One notable characteristic of beryllonite is its remarkable hardness. It ranks 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively resistant to scratching and abrasion. Beryllonite also possesses good cleavage, meaning it can break along smooth planes, with its fracture being conchoidal.
This mineral is highly sought after in the jewelry and gemstone industry due to its striking clarity and brilliance. Its colorless or white appearance allows it to be faceted into stunning gemstones that are often used in fine jewelry, particularly for pendants, earrings, and rings. Due to its scarcity, beryllonite is considered a collector's gem and can fetch significant prices in the market. Additionally, it has industrial applications due to its high beryllium content, which makes it useful in the production of certain alloys and ceramics
Common Misspellings for BERYLLONITE
- veryllonite
- neryllonite
- heryllonite
- geryllonite
- bwryllonite
- bsryllonite
- bdryllonite
- brryllonite
- b4ryllonite
- b3ryllonite
- beeyllonite
- bedyllonite
- befyllonite
- betyllonite
- be5yllonite
- be4yllonite
- bertllonite
- bergllonite
- berhllonite
- berullonite
Etymology of BERYLLONITE
The word "beryllonite" is derived from the mineral it represents, which is "beryllonite" itself. The mineral was named in 1818 by François Sulpice Beudant, a French mineralogist and geologist. The term "beryllonite" is a combination of two words: "beryl" and "onos", which respectively represent the greenish-blue gemstone and the Greek word for "fingernail" or "claw". The name "beryllonite" was given due to the mineral's close resemblance to beryl in terms of color and crystal structure.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
