Morganite Gemstone Information

Morganite is the pink to purplish-pink shade belonging to the Beryl group. Morganite was initially recognized in 1910, and was named by George F. Kunz in honour of J.P. (John Pierpont) Morgan the banker and financier. Morgan was an avid collector of gemstones.

It is a rare enough that the stone is more famous as the collector's type of gemstone. While it is not a common gemstone, however the gemstone is much in demand because of the light colour. Morganite normally comes in soft pink, however warmer salmon pink tones are also common in this gemstone. It is coloured by very small traces of the element manganese that gets incorporate in the crystal structure. To remove the salmon or orangey tone sometimes Morganite is treated with little heat spreading the light pink colour.

Morganite comes in the light pink to violet-pink variety of beryl. Pink morganite is many times referred as a 'pink emerald'. Just like the emerald, even morganite is linked to blue aquamarine, golden beryl (heliodor), colourless goshenite and the rare red bixbite. In case of beryls, morganite is considered as the rarest forms, next to red bixbite only.

Pink morganite was first identified in California, USA, in 1910. At first, it was simply referred to as 'pink beryl'.

Recognise - Morganite is an aluminum beryllium silicate. The colour of the stone ranges from pale pink to violet, salmon or peach. As compare to other beryls, even morganite too has very good hardness. The refractive index is 1.562 to 1.602. Morganite is slightly denser than other beryls at 2.71 to 2.90. Morganite is considered to be clean, unlike emerald which tends to be heavily included. In most cases, it is easily distinguished from other pink stones by its brilliance and lustre, combined with its hardness, durability and excellent clarity.

Availability - Morganite can be found in many locations around the world. The two most important sources of morganite are found in Brazil and Madagascar. Other sources for fine gem-quality morganite include Afghanistan, Madagascar, China, Namibia, Russia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the USA (California and Maine).

Usages - The colour of morganite makes it look very good in white gold settings. Due to its hardness morganite is hard enough for most jewellery except rings which are worn every day. In an everyday ring setting, the gem will get worn and scratched over an extended period of time. Morganites are considered to be very good fine in rings which are worn only on special occasions.

Buying Guide

Colour - When selecting a morganite gemstone, the colour is by far the most important criterion. Morganite ranges in colour from violet-pink, pale pink to pink, peach, peachy-pink, or salmon colour. Its colour is thought to be owed to traces of manganese or cesium. Morganite is hardly comes in bright or intense colour; maximum stones are very pale or pastel colour. Large stones will typically exhibit stronger colours. A pure pink morganite is considered to be in high demand, but more recently, peachy and salmon colour stones have been in very high demand. A rare magenta colour morganite is also found from Madagascar and it is highly sought after by collectors

Clarity and Lustre - Morganite occurs with excellent transparency and it rarely forms with inclusions, this rises in expectation of eye-clean stones. Morganite gives an attractive vitreous lustre when cut and polished.

Cut and Shape - Morganite is faceted naturally to maximize its colour and brilliance. With its blurry cleavage, cutters should orient the stone properly to reduce the cleavage. It is considered to be the rarer materials that gives the effect of cat's eye are cut en cabochon on regular basis in order to best exhibit desirable effects. Morganite is regularly cut into ovals, rounds, cushions and pears, as well as trillions briolettes and hearts.

Treatment - Frequently, morganite is found unheated and unenhanced. Still there are many stones these days may be are routinely heat treated to improve colour and remove unwanted yellow tones. Comparatively at a lower temperature heating is done (about 400 degrees centigrade) to achieve this effect.

Gemmological Characteristics:

Chemical Formula	Al2(Be3[Si6O18] - Aluminum beryllium silicate
Crystal Structure	Hexagon (hexagonal prisms)
Colour	From pale-pink to violet-pink, salmon, peach
Hardness	7.5 to 8
Refractive Index	1.562 to 1.602
Density	2.71 to 2.90
Cleavage	Indistinct
Transparency	Transparent to opaque
Double Refraction or Birefringence	-0.004 to -0.010
Lustre	Vitreous
Fluorescence	Weak: Violet
Mineral Class	Beryl

Classification:

Pink Morganite
Purple Morganite

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