Characterization of emeralds from a historical deposit: Byrud (Eidsvoll), Norway - INSU - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers Access content directly
Journal Articles Gems & Gemology : the quarterly journal of the Gemological Institute of America Year : 2008

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

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.% V2O3), 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.
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Dates and versions

insu-00322665 , version 1 (18-09-2008)

Identifiers

  • HAL Id : insu-00322665 , version 1

Cite

Benjamin Rondeau, Emmanuel Fritsch, Jean-Jacques Peucat, Fred-Steinar Nordrum, Lee Groat. Characterization of emeralds from a historical deposit: Byrud (Eidsvoll), Norway. Gems & Gemology : the quarterly journal of the Gemological Institute of America, 2008, 44 (2), pp.108-122. ⟨insu-00322665⟩
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