Chrysoberyl var. Alexandrite - Brazilian!

Item Description

Sharp, lustrous, orthorhombic spearpoints of alexandrite chrysoberyl, to 2.4 cm, are aesthetically set in the sculptural sparkly biotite schist matrix on this showy and excellent specimen from this famous emerald mine. Alexandrite is the rare Cr-rich green variety (can be gemmy) of chrysoberyl that exibits a color change in natural and artificial light from green to amethystine (Alexandrite effect). Bright light shows both emerald-green and purple color saturation on the crystals. The crystals exhibit the typical pleochroism characteristic of alexandrite - the color change of green to purple or red. A showy, highly representative small cabinet example. Carnaiba alexandrites are notoriously difficult to photograph. Valued $1250