Vanadium-bearing beryl

Safety & handling

Physical

Colour: “electro-optical” green · (blue-green)
The broad UV-Vis-NIR absorption bands at 427 and 610 nm are characteristic of V3+ (and a minor amount of Cr3+). Charge transfer between Fe2+ and Fe3+ may also contribute to the 610 nm band, which is superimposed on the absorption bands of V3+ and Cr3+. These factors primarily contribute to the blue-green coloration of beryl. The absorption induced by V3+ in the visible violet-blue region exhibits stronger intensity and a greater tendency towards the blue region compared to Cr3+. Consequently, the resultant vanadium-bearing beryl acquires the yellow-green hue (induced by V) overlaid with the light blue (induced by charge transfer between Fe2+-Fe3+ pairs), resulting in the so-called “electro-optical” green (blue-green) beryl. [[1]]

Chemical composition

Constituent elements: Mass composition breakdown
Element Atoms At. mass g/mol Mass g/mol Mass share
8OOxygen Oxygen 18 15.999 287.982
53.58%
14SiSilicon Silicon 6 28.085 168.510
31.35%
13AlAluminium Aluminium 2 26.982 53.964
10.04%
4BeBeryllium Beryllium 3 9.012 27.036
5.03%
Total 537.492 100.00%
Mass share = atoms × atomic mass ÷ molar mass × 100
From Mindat formula
Impurities: Fe
V
Cr
Ba
Ca
Cu
Zn
K

Mass composition breakdown
Element	Atoms	At. mass g/mol	Mass g/mol	Mass share
8OOxygen	Oxygen	18	15.999	287.982	53.58%
14SiSilicon	Silicon	6	28.085	168.510	31.35%
13AlAluminium	Aluminium	2	26.982	53.964	10.04%
4BeBeryllium	Beryllium	3	9.012	27.036	5.03%
	Total	537.492	100.00%

Literature, links & citation

Citations

2025Hong, Yunlong; Zhang, Yu; Shao, Xinyi; Mu, Yanyi; Yu, Yuemiao (2025) Gemological Characteristics and Coloration Mechanism of Vanadium-Bearing Beryl from Nigeria. Minerals, 15 (6). doi:10.3390/min15060557DOI: 10.3390/min15060557

Cite this entry

@misc{mineral2026,
  author    = {Mineral Index editorial board},
  title     = {Vanadium-bearing beryl — Mineral Index},
  year      = {2026},
  url       = {https://mineralindex.org/minerals/vanadium-bearing-beryl-472129},
  note      = {Accessed 2026-05-11}
}