All About Red Beryl – Uses, Properties, Color, and Worth

What is Red Beryl?

Red beryl is a rare type of beryl that can be found at very few places on this earth.  Red Beryl is also considered to be one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones in the world, with only one place available that consistently produces gem quality red beryl…

Red beryl was first discovered in Utah back in 1904 by a Mr. Maynard Bixby.  A couple of years later his name was attached to the mineral by the name of bixbite.  Since the name of bixbite was too close to the mineral bixbyite, causing some confusion, the name was later removed from use by those in the jewelry profession.

Some people will label red beryl as “red beryl rock” or “red beryl stone”. Red beryl is a mineral by chemical and geological standards and definitions. Most beryl’s are found in pegmatites and specific metamorphic rocks, however red beryl occurs in topaz bearing rhyolites.

Gases heavy with beryllium made their way through cracks from volcanic vents to eventually oxidize with water that seeped into those cracks as well.  With the special combination of silica, iron-manganese oxides, and alkali metal elements of potassium, aluminum, and sodium, red beryl crystals were slowly formed over time at very high temperatures.

As red beryl was formed it did so as elongated hexagonal crystals.  These crystals can grow to 50mm or more but are more commonly found in the 2 to 10mm range.   

Where is Red Beryl found?

The Wah Wah Mountains of Beaver County, Utah is where quality red beryl gems can be found.  You can also find red beryl at locations such as the Thomas Range in Utah, as well as the Black Range in New Mexico, though the red beryl found there will likely not be gem quality…

The Ruby-Violet claim in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah was staked and claimed in 1958 by Lamar Hodges while out prospecting for uranium.  He ended up finding larger gem quality crystals in a small area that quickly made the claim famous.  Later, the Harris family in Delta, Utah purchased the rights in 1976 and have been working the mine for gems and specimens along with any others that have been given lease rights by the Harris family.

Red Beryl Color

Red beryl color can range from orange-red to purple-red.  This color range of red is due to the mixture of elements available when red beryl formed.  Typically the color can be described as “gooseberry red” or “scarlet red”.

Other colors of beryl can include green, blue, yellow, colorless, pink, as well as other colors.  Red beryl is red due to its included elements of alkali feldspar, silica, beryllium, and iron-manganese combination.     

What is Red Beryl Used for?

Red beryl is used for jewelry and as a displayable specimen.  Jewelry uses include rings, pendants, necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry.  With the rarity of red beryl gemstones being cut into jewelry, displayable specimens are quite common.

Red Beryl beads are not one of the major uses of this mineral. This of course is due to the rarity of a single red beryl gem being available, let alone a whole string of them on a necklace or bracelet in the form of beads.

Red Beryl can be found at the Topaz Mountain, Utah location in the higher elevations of what is called the “bowl”. This area is BLM land and open to all who wish to do red beryl rockhounding in Utah. There can be nicer looking crystals obtained from this location but expect many specimens to be roughly the size and quality as seen in the accompanying photo.

In many cases you will not be able to find red beryl at Topaz Mountain. I have found that you have to know someone who has found it and kindly lets you in on where to get it. For the most part, hunting for quality topaz gemstones is more of a focus while visiting Utah location.

What is Red Beryl Worth?

Red beryl worth and value is very expensive due to its rarity.  Gem quality red beryl will fetch a price around $1000 to $10,000+ a carat.  The value of low grade red beryl with little color, can be as low as $10 a carat. 

The common saying goes with the worth of red beryl, “Red beryl is worth many times more than gold, and is rarer than a diamond”.

It is estimated that for every 150,000 diamonds mined, only one crystal of red beryl would be found.   Some faceted crystals that are found, in particular found from the Ruby Violet Claims in Utah, are estimated to be worth around $10,000 USD per carat.

Only about 10% of the red beryl gemstones that are cut will be over 1 carat.  The largest cut red beryl stone to date comes in at about 4.5 carats.

Red beryl can be obtained as a fairly expensive display specimen.  Specimens can be a bit less expensive than faceted gemstones but expect to pay a pretty big price anyway for nicer looking specimens. Some small fairly colorless specimens full of surrounding rock can be obtained for around 10 USD if you must have one of these gemstones.  As the color gets better and the size gets larger, that price will jump quickly to hundreds of dollars.

Red Beryl vs Other Gemstones

Red beryl is often compared to other gemstones such as a diamond, emerald and even a ruby. Here are some comparisons to help you differentiate the differences between the minerals.

Red Beryl vs Diamond

Red beryl and diamond are very different in color and other properties. Just about every property from chemical formula to streak will be different. Most people do this comparison based on the price or worth of the two gemstones.

Diamonds tend to hold its value due to demand not quantity mined. This could also be due to the controversial topic of big diamond business hording many diamonds to maintain price levels. Red beryl is rare to find as quality gemstones which give it its high price. In many cases the value of the two minerals run neck and neck in cost per carat with diamonds being a little more expensive.

In this author’s opinion if red beryl were to become more popular, rivaling the center stone of an engagement ring for example, the price of red beryl would sky rocket through the roof.

Red Beryl vs Emerald

Red beryl and emerald are very similar in chemical formula, streak, and other properties. Some call red beryl by the name of red emerald, though that term does not appear to be used often. Red beryl will out pace emerald when it comes to price.

The difference in color from the two minerals comes with emerald having small amounts of chromium and at times vanadium. Red beryl will have elements of alkali feldspar, silica, beryllium, and iron-manganese as mentioned above. (View All About Emeralds for comparison.)

Red Beryl vs Ruby

Red beryl and ruby are often compared to each other by the red color they both express. Many often think that due to this comparison that they could be the same thing. They are not. Both minerals carry the elements of aluminum and oxygen but their chemical formulas are very different along with other mineral properties.

Ruby is a type of corundum or (aluminum oxide), much like the other popular gemstone sapphire. Like emeralds, rubies get their color from the chromium available while it was formed.