---
title: "Emerald: meaning in gemology"
description: "Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of the mineral beryl. Chromium, vanadium or both cause its color."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/emerald
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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

# Emerald

Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of the mineral beryl. Chromium, vanadium or both cause its color.

## In more detail

Most emeralds have fractures, and some estimates say 90 percent or more are fracture-filled. Emerald is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, with fair to good toughness. So cutters often give it a step cut with cropped corners. Heat, steam and ultrasonic cleaners can damage it.

## On a grading report

Labs identify it as (natural) beryl, species emerald. The report states any fissure filling, often with its amount: minor, moderate or significant.

## Related terms

- [Beryl](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/beryl): Beryl is the mineral species of emerald. Aquamarine and the other beryl colors belong to the same species.
- [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.
- [Jardin](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/jardin): Jardin, French for garden, is a trade word for the mossy, garden-like inclusions typical of emerald.
- [Emerald oiling](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/emerald-oiling): Emerald oiling is filling an emerald's fissures with a colorless oil to make them less visible.
- [Clarity enhancement](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/clarity-enhancement): Clarity enhancement is filling surface-reaching fissures with a filler such as oil, resin, wax or glass, so they show less.
- [Three-phase inclusion](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/three-phase-inclusion): A three-phase inclusion is a small cavity that holds a liquid, a gas bubble and a crystal. The crystal is often a cube of salt (halite).

## Learn more

- [Emerald 3D models and cutting files](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald)
- [Emerald Cut Emerald: a little more face for its weight than the T73, on a long step-cut outline](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/emerald/emerald-cut)
- [Emerald Cut](https://digitalgemology.com/cuts/emerald-cut)
- [Dichroscope](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/dichroscope)
- [Spectroscope](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/spectroscope)

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