Alexandrite (original) (raw)
About AlexandriteHide
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Name:
Named in 1842 by Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld in honor of Alexander II (1818-81), Czar of Russia, 1855-81.
A variety of Chrysoberyl
Alexandrite is a green Cr-bearing variety of chrysoberyl (intermediate member of Chrysoberyl-Mariinskite series) that exhibits a color change in natural and artificial light from green to amethystine (Alexandrite effect).
Originally reported from Emerald mines (Izumrudnye Kopi; Malyshevskoye deposit), Malyshevo, Ekaterinburg (Yekaterinburg; Sverdlovsk), Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Urals Region, Russia.
Effective substition of Fe3+ on the mirror-symmetry site has a strong effect to the Cr3+ lifetime, Cr being responsible for the color effects.
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Mindat ID:
109 (as Alexandrite)
1039 (as Chrysoberyl)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:109:6 (as Alexandrite)
mindat:1:1:1039:5 (as Chrysoberyl)
ac9d3cfe-6c95-4a51-aadf-46e41f81a1fb (as Alexandrite)
6da5ad8a-c850-4c6f-8dcf-2b1716b87698 (as Chrysoberyl)
Pronunciation of AlexandriteHide
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Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Sorry, your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. | Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Chemistry of AlexandriteHide
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Synonyms of AlexandriteHide
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Other Language Names for AlexandriteHide
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Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Other InformationHide
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Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for AlexandriteHide
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References for AlexandriteHide
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Reference List:
Ollier, Nadège, Fuchs, Yves, Cavani, Olivier, Horn, Adolf Heinrich, Rossano, Stéphanie (2015) Influence of impurities on Cr3+ luminescence properties in Brazilian emerald and alexandrite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 27 (6) 783-792 doi:10.1127/ejm/2015/0027-2484
Trindade, Neilo Marcos, da Cruz, Marcela Rodrigues, Kahn, Henrique, Jacobsohn, Luiz Gustavo, Yoshimura, Elisabeth Mateus (2019) Thermoluminescence and radioluminescence of alexandrite mineral. Journal of Luminescence, 206. 455-461 doi:10.1016/j.jlumin.2018.10.114
Rybnikova, Olena, Bačík, Peter, Uher, Pavel, Fridrichová, Jana, Lalinská‐Voleková, Bronislava, Kubernátová, Monika, Hanus, Radek (2023) Characterization of chrysoberyl and its gemmological varieties by Raman spectroscopy. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 54 (8). 857-870 doi:10.1002/jrs.6566
Localities for AlexandriteHide
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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Locality ListHide
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- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.