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Chrysoberyl Beads
Chrysoberyl is often mistaken as a member of the beryl group. In spite of its name, however, it is not actually a beryl at all. but a separate gem species. The name `chrysoberyl` comes from the Greek and means `gold-colored beryl`. Together with Alexandrite, Chrysoberyl forms an independent gemstone species. From a mineralogical point of view, chrysoberyl beads are aluminium oxide containing beryllium, and thus actually have little in common with the beryls, which belong to the silicate family. The chrysoberyls come in many hues between lemon and greenish yellow, and in honey colors and shades from mint green to brownish green, and are mostly found in the gemstone deposits of Brazil, Sri Lanka or East Africa. A Chrysoberyl characteristic may include the Cat`s eye phenomenon (Chatoyancy) for which Chrysoberyl is famous and prized.
