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Gem Profile- Morganite

by Judy Ellis
One of the recent finds of the 20th century, Morganite was first discovered and recognized on an island off the coast of Madagascar, and then also found in Pala, California, along with tourmaline and kunzite. Deposits since have been found in Brazil, Mozambique, Namibia, Russia, and Afghanistan, but it is still regarded as a rare gemstone. A beautiful beryl gem, morganite features a pink-to-peach translucent color.
Called pink beryl until renamed morganite, this gem honors J.P. Morgan.

He was a bank tycoon and avid gem collector. George Kunz named it at Tiffany & Co., where he served as mineralogist, buyer, and vice president.

Kunz relied on Morgan, his biggest benefactor. (Kunz's namesake is kunzite, a pink-light purple spodumene he described in 1902.)

The New York Academy of Sciences officially named it morganite.

Other names include rose beryl, pink emerald, and cesian beryl.

Pink color comes from manganese traces.
Judy Ellis's Gem Profile- Morganite - , General Education, , Morganite stone from Brazil, photo courtesy of Géry Parent.
The Rose of Maine is a famous morganite specimen.

Found October 7, 1989, at Bennett Quarry in Buckfield, Maine, it weighed over 50 pounds with matrix. About 9 inches long and 12 inches across.

Morganite may show yellow or salmon patches (yellow improves with irradiation).

Red beryl is separate, once called "bixbite" (now discouraged to avoid confusion with bixbyite). Also known as red or scarlet emerald, first described in 1904 in Juab County, Utah. Found in Utah and New Mexico, extremely rare.

Pezzottaite (raspberry beryl or raspberyl) is another reddish beryl from Madagascar and Afghanistan. Light conduction differs, aiding identification.

Unlike emerald, morganite lacks inclusions and is hardy.

Rates 7.5-8 on Mohs scale, safe for everyday wear including rings. Clean with mild dish soap and soft toothbrush.

Metaphysically, it links to the heart chakra, aiding love attraction, emotion balance, compassion, and empathy.
Judy Ellis's Gem Profile- Morganite - , General Education, , Kunzite found in Konar Valley, Afghanistan; photo credit to Didier Descouens
Resources & Recommended Reading

George Kunz on Wikipedia

Kunzite on Wikipedia

Beryl on Wikipedia

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