| The emerald is probably the most rare of all | | | | green, there are other shades, such as grass |
| precious stones and is considered by some to be | | | | green, sea green and green slightly tinged with |
| even more valuable than the diamond. Compared | | | | yellow. The shades most highly valued are those |
| with other precious stones the emerald in its | | | | of an intense fresh green sometimes compared |
| occurrence in nature is unique, for it is found in | | | | with that seen in a meadow in spring.Beryl is a |
| the rock in which it was formed. Unlike diamonds, | | | | mineral known to gem lovers under several |
| sapphires and rubies, it never occurs in gem | | | | different names, the most valued of which is the |
| gravels. The earliest known locality where | | | | Emerald. The mineral beryl composing the various |
| emeralds were found was in Upper Egypt near | | | | gems is practically the same in composition, |
| the coast of the Red Sea. The best stones, | | | | hardness, and other properties, and the gems |
| however, are found in Columbia, South America. | | | | may be differentiated only by their color. In |
| Fine specimens have also been found in the United | | | | composition beryl is a silicate of aluminum and |
| States in North Carolina.While the usual shade of | | | | glucinum. |
| color seen in emeralds is alluded to as emerald | | | | |