By Chisom Ibemere
Morganite is a gemstone and a variety of beryl with orange and pink colours.
It is mined in places like Brazil, Afghanistan, Mozambique, Namibia, the United States of America, and Madagascar. Its popularity has grown since 2010. It has been mentioned as an alternative stone to diamond. It is discovered according to 2017 survey that Morganite is the second most popular non diamond stone after Sapphire.
Morganite has other names such as pink beryl, rose beryl, pink emerald, and “cesian beryl”. It is named after J. P. Morgan. The pink color of morganite is attributed to Mn2+ ions. Morganite exhibits pleochroism; and shows more pinkish colour when viewed down from its crystallographic axis.
Morganite is more durable when compared with Emerald due to its lack of inclusions and fractures. It is one of the most rarest of the Beryl group after red beryl. A single carat may cost up to $300. High quality stones are scarce and expensive. Ones that are deep pink in colour tend to be the most valuable.
Morganite has an indistinct cleavage, hexagonal Crystal structure, prismatic form, conchoidal and uneven fracture. It has a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8, a vitreous Luster and belongs to cyclosilicates mineral family. It has a specific gravity of 2.68-2.74, white streak and may be transparent to opaque.
