MORGANITE

REFRACTIVE INDEX    1.600  -  1.560
HARDNESS       7.5  -  8
SPECIFIC GRAVITY      2.67  -  2.90

MINERAL  CLASS          Beryl

 

Morganite is a beryl,  belongs to the same gemstone family as Emerald, Aquamarine,, Golden Beryl and Bixbite. Among these Beryls, Morganite and the raspberry-red Bixbite are the rarest.  Morganite is not quite as scarce, but still counts as a rare variety.

Violet and peach are possible colors in Morganite, but the most common and desired color is pink.  Morganite is colored by traces of manganese.  Heat and light will remove the yellow component from peach beryl so it is often heated to get darker pink color  stones.   Inclusions seen in Beryl  are often seen in Morganite as well.

 

 Morganite was introduced to the market in 1911 by Tiffany &  Co.

 

Madagascar was the original  producer of Morganite, but  are now worked out.  Brazil and  Namibia are two major Morganite producers today.