Pezzottaite
Pezzottaite
Displaying gorgeous deep raspberry pinks, pezzottaite is a relatively new gemstone that has been subject to much confusion due to its similarities with red beryl. Pezzottaite has a variety of misnomer trade names including Madagascan raspberyl, raspberyl and raspberry beryl. Pezzottaite was first thought to be a new variety of beryl. Pezzottaite upon analysis was found to be a new mineral variety, with a trigonal crystal structure and that it contained cesium and lithium, which differed from beryl, making its trade names misleading.
General Information
LWUV: Inert to Red
Pezzottaite Colors
-
Pink -
Red
Pezzottaite Spectra
Color due to manganese. The broad absorption band centered about 570nm. obscures all yellow
We acknowledge the significant scientific contributions of John S Harris, FGA to the study of gemstone spectra and with deep appreciation to him, acknowledges the use of his images and related notes about gemstones and their spectra in the educational materials on this website.
Alternate Names
Malagasite
Countries of Origin
Afghanistan; Unknown; Madagascar
Care
Normal care
Optical Phenomena
Cat's-Eye or Star Pezzottaite
Cat’s-Eye pezzottaites contain numerous parallel growth tubes parallel to the c-axis. These stones were only mined for a short time in near Ambatovita in central Madagascar. The site was primarily exhausted by 2003.
