Characterization of emeralds from a historical deposit: Byrud (Eidsvoll), Norway

Research areas:

• Surfaces planétaires (2011 - 2016)

Year:

2008

Authors:

• Benjamin Rondeau
• Emmanuel Fritsch
• Jean-Jacques Peucat
• Fred Steinar Nordrum
• Lee Groat

Journal:

GEMS & GEMOLOGY

Volume:

44

Number:

2

Pages:

108-122

Month:

SUM

ISSN:

0016-626X

BibTex:

@article{WOS:000257834400001, author = "Benjamin Rondeau and Emmanuel Fritsch and Jean-Jacques Peucat and Fred Steinar Nordrum and Lee Groat", abstract = "An emerald deposit at Byrud, in southern Norway, yielded significant quantities of crystals and gem rough in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Complex multiphase inclusions in the emeralds consist of water, gaseous methane, halite, sylvite, calcite, and a sulfide assemblage (pyrrhotite, galena, and sphalerite). This sulfide assemblage makes it easy to distinguish Byrud emeralds from those from other localities with a binocular microscope. The chemical composition of Byrud emeralds is also characteristic: They are colored mostly by vanadium (up to 1 wt.\% V(2)O(3)), and contain low sodium and magnesium (0.1 wt.\% oxide or less). Moreover, the relative amounts of iron, magnesium, chromium, rubidium, and cesium appear to be diagnostic. Infrared absorption spectra show that they contain little water. Emeralds from the Byrud deposit are still occasionally recovered by hobbyist collectors from the mine dumps.", extra = "PICL", issn = "0016-626X", journal = "GEMS {\&}amp; GEMOLOGY", month = "SUM", number = "2", pages = "108-122", title = "{C}haracterization of emeralds from a historical deposit: {B}yrud ({E}idsvoll), {N}orway", volume = "44", year = "2008", }

Abstract:

An emerald deposit at Byrud, in southern Norway, yielded significant
quantities of crystals and gem rough in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. Complex multiphase inclusions in the emeralds consist of
water, gaseous methane, halite, sylvite, calcite, and a sulfide
assemblage (pyrrhotite, galena, and sphalerite). This sulfide assemblage
makes it easy to distinguish Byrud emeralds from those from other
localities with a binocular microscope. The chemical composition of
Byrud emeralds is also characteristic: They are colored mostly by
vanadium (up to 1 wt.\% V(2)O(3)), and contain low sodium and magnesium
(0.1 wt.\% oxide or less). Moreover, the relative amounts of iron,
magnesium, chromium, rubidium, and cesium appear to be diagnostic.
Infrared absorption spectra show that they contain little water.
Emeralds from the Byrud deposit are still occasionally recovered by
hobbyist collectors from the mine dumps.