---
title: "Beryl: meaning in gemology"
description: "Beryl is the mineral species of emerald. Aquamarine and the other beryl colors belong to the same species."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/beryl
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Colored gemstones

# Beryl

Beryl is the mineral species of emerald. Aquamarine and the other beryl colors belong to the same species.

## In more detail

On our gemstone pages, emerald has a refractive index of 1.577 to 1.583 and a specific gravity of 2.72. It is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, and its crystal system is hexagonal. These values vary a little from deposit to deposit. Not every green beryl is emerald.

## On a grading report

LMHC wording prints '(natural) beryl' as the identification and 'emerald' as the species.

## Related terms

- [Emerald](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/emerald): Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of the mineral beryl. Chromium, vanadium or both cause its color.
- [Green beryl](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/green-beryl): Green beryl is a green beryl that does not qualify as emerald. Its color is too weak, or iron rather than chromium or vanadium mainly causes it.
- [Gem species](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/gem-species): A gem species is a mineral with one chemical composition and one crystal structure, such as corundum, beryl or quartz.
- [Gem variety](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/gem-variety): A variety is a subdivision of a gem species, usually by color. Ruby and sapphire are varieties of corundum, and emerald is a variety of beryl.
- [Crystal system](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/crystal-system): A crystal system groups crystals by the symmetry of their atomic structure. Gemologists use seven: cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal, trigonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic and triclinic.

## Learn more

- [Emerald 3D models and cutting files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald)
- [Dichroscope](https://digitalgemology.com/about/how-we-measure/dichroscope)
- [Refractometer](https://digitalgemology.com/about/how-we-measure/refractometer)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)