Goshenite

Goshenite is the colourless or near-colourless variety of beryl, the same mineral as emerald and aquamarine. Pure beryl is colourless; the trace elements that colour emerald, aquamarine or morganite are almost absent in goshenite. It takes its name from Goshen, Massachusetts, where it was first found. Because it can be very clear, it was once used to make lenses and eyeglasses; today it is mostly a collectors' stone of relatively low value.

Jewellery: It is cut on a small scale as a colourless gem, but more often faceted for collectors than for mainstream jewellery. Collecting: Large, clear crystals on mica, feldspar or quartz are kept in mineral collections. History: Thanks to its clarity it was once used to make lenses, magnifiers and eyeglasses.

It has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. It scratches glass and steel; a steel knife cannot scratch it. Its specific gravity is 2.63–2.97 g/cm³.

Its best-known localities: Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA; Eastern Minas Gerais pegmatite region, Brazil; Ural Mountains, Russia; Dassu area, Braldu Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan; Ampangabe area, near Antsirabe, Madagascar.

It is colourless or nearly so; its crystals are six-sided prisms and are often very clear. Its hardness is 7.5–8; it is harder than quartz, so it can scratch quartz. Its refractive index is about 1.57–1.58 and its specific gravity 2.6–2.8. It is less brilliant than colourless stones such as diamond, white sapphire and topaz, and lacks the coloured flashes (fire) of diamond. Foil backing: a green foil placed behind goshenite can make it look like emerald; because its physical properties are the same as emerald's, this imitation is deceptive.

On the “street to diamond” value ladder it sits on step 5 of nine: Ornamental stone. Goshenite is of relatively low value: it has no attractive colour and cannot compete with colourless stones such as diamond, topaz and white sapphire in hardness, brilliance and fire. In cut stones, clarity, cut quality and size decide value; completely clean, large stones are more sought after. In crystal specimens, crystal form, size, lack of damage and the overall look with associated minerals matter; goshenite is sought mostly by collectors who want to complete a beryl collection.

According to the mineralogist George F. Kunz, crystal gazers who sought visions often preferred polished spheres of beryl; beryl was believed to give more visions than any other mineral. Today crystal-therapy websites and stone sellers claim that goshenite is a “stone of truth” that supports honest communication and clarity of mind, clears up misunderstandings in relationships, brings calm, and opens the crown chakra. There is no scientific evidence that beryl or goshenite gives visions, clears the mind or mends relationships. The crystal-gazing belief reported by Kunz applies to beryl in general, not to any particular colour; goshenite's clarity simply comes from the near absence of colouring trace elements. This section reports beliefs; it is not health information. There is no scientific evidence for these claims and no stone replaces medical treatment.