BERYL (Lat. bcryllus, bcrullus, Gk. f3hpuX Xos, berynos, probably from Ski-. vaidurya, origi nally brought from Vidura). A glueinum-alu minium silicate, which crystallizes in the hex agonal system. It has a vitreous lustre, and varies in color from an emerald green to lighter shades of that color, and into light blue, yellow. white, and sometimes rose-red. There are two dis tinct varieties of this mineral. The first is of a clear, bright, emerald-green color, which is due to the presence of a small amount of chromium, and is called emerald; this variety, however, must not be confounded with the Oriental emerald, which is a green variety of sapphire. The finest specimens arc found in isolated crystals and in geodes with calcite, quartz, and other minerals. They conic from New Granada, Brazil, and Si beria ; and from Alexander County, N. C., in the United States. When cut they are highly
prized as gems. Among the ancients the emerald was greatly esteemed as a prophylactic against epilepsy and a cure for dysentery. It was supposed to guard the chastity of the wearer, and to resent any trespass by breaking into pieces. The emerald-mines of Cleopatra are believed to have been in the mountain range that ex tends for a long distance parallel with the Red Sea and a few miles west of its coast, on the Nile. The transparent varieties of beryl are called aquamarine. They are found in various colors, and of a quality suitable for gems, in Brazil and Siberia, at Royalston, Mass., and at Stony Point, N. C. Large, coarse specimens of crystallized beryl, mostly hexagonal prisms, have been found at Acworth and Grafton, N. H. One specimen from Grafton weighed 2900 pounds.