Emerald: History, Analysis of a Famous Green Gem

The Emerald is a rich green stone that can be more valuable than a diamond of the same size. Emeralds are part of the beryl family of precious stones. They have a hardness of 8 to 10 on the Mohs scale. The green color is caused by the traces of chromium and iron in the mineral. The luster of the mineral is considered to be pearly or vitreous. Emerald is considered a gem, or a mineral that is desired for its beauty. In this paper I will discuss the value of Emeralds as well as their history, and also the classification of emeralds and the differences in these classifications. …