Uncommon Gems Discovered: Scarlet Beryl mined in Utah, U.S.A.
Red beryl, a stunning gemstone known for its distinctive red colour and hexagonal crystal form, is a rare find, almost exclusively discovered in the United States, specifically in the Thomas Range of Juab County, Utah.
Natural Origins
This rare gemstone is a variety of the mineral beryl, coloured red by trace amounts of manganese. It forms in igneous volcanic rhyolite rocks where gases and fluids have created cavities and veins. The crystallization of red beryl occurs from high-temperature, silica-rich fluids in these rhyolite cavities, a process that is rare and requires very specific conditions, making red beryl far less common than other beryl varieties like emerald or aquamarine.
The geological process results in its distinctive red colour and hexagonal crystal form, often associated with rare minerals such as pseudobrookite at the Searle Canyon Mine within the Thomas Range [1].
Mining History
Red beryl was first discovered in the early 1900s in Utah and remains predominantly mined there today. The principal locality is the Searle Canyon Mine in the Thomas Range of Juab County, which produces some of the finest red beryl crystals documented.
Mining is challenging due to the rarity and small size of crystals, often requiring careful extraction from hard rhyolite rock. Unlike more common forms of beryl like aquamarine that form in pegmatites, red beryl's genesis in volcanic rhyolite makes both its discovery and mining much more exceptional [1].
The discovery of red beryl was initially named bixbite, but the name was later discredited due to potential confusion. Lamar Hodges discovered a second occurrence of red beryl in the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah in 1958. The Harris family purchased the rights to mine the property where Hodges discovered red beryl in 1978 and established the Ruby Violet Mine.
The Kennecott Exploration Company (KEC) leased the Ruby Violet Mine from the Harris family in 1994 to explore the feasibility of large-scale red beryl mining. KEC's explorations at the Ruby Violet Mine estimated the yield of red beryl at 1.2ct per ton of ore with only 10% yield during faceting, meaning the mine was estimated to produce .125ct of faceted red beryl per ton of ore.
Summary
Red beryl's rarity and value arise from its unique geologic formation in rhyolite volcanic rocks under specific high-temperature conditions found mainly in Utah. The Thomas Range, especially the Searle Canyon Mine, is the historic and current center of red beryl mining, making the United States the exclusive source of this precious red gemstone.
No other search results provide detailed history or origin for red beryl beyond the Utah locality, underscoring its unique American provenance [1]. Red beryl has been produced by only seven locations, with the majority being in Utah and the only other country being Mexico. Clay minerals like kaolinite sometimes mark areas where red beryl is concentrated.
[1] Source: Gemstones International Association (GIA)
This article aims to provide informative and engaging content about red beryl, its natural origins, and mining history. It is not intended to replace scientific research or expert opinions.
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