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Heliodor
This name, meaning gift of the sun, has been
coir fairly recently for the yellow-green variety of beryl.
Appearance Its main characteristic is its color, which the
yellow-green of olive oil. The shade, however, may v. considerably,
and it is hard to establish a dividing line t tween heliodor
and golden beryl. The normally medium largish stones are generally
given an oval or, more rarelv step cut. They may have the
liquid inclusions typica beryl, but are usually quite clear.
Distinctive features Yellower versions can
look v: much like olivine. But the strong birefringence of
the latw visible merely by observing the facet edges with
a lereadily distinguishes it. Heliodor may also be very simila
chrysoberyl; the latter, however, is usually more lustrc and,
of course, has different physical characteristics nally, heliodor
can bear a resemblance to some yell: green tourmalines, though
the color of these is sligr duller. Here, too, the surest
way to establish a distinctic by measuring the physical characteristics.
Occurrence The best specimens come from Nam
r but heliodor is also found in Madagascar and Value Collectors
value heliodor at least as highly a aquamarine. It is not
common on the market.
Simulants and synthetics A yellow-green variety
of syrthetic spinel is used to imitate heliodor. Synthetic
heliodor however, does not exist.
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