Beryl Crystal in Fluorite
Recently, the authors examined a purple fluorite specimen that contained an elongate hexagonal rod-shaped crystal (see above). The crystal host had been collected by Chris Lehmann (Lehmann Minerals, Benton, California) in the Birch Creek area of the White Mountains in Inyo County, California. This area was host to volcanic activity that resulted in granitic dikes cutting across dolomite and other sedimentary rock types. The most abundant minerals found in the area are quartz, calcic oligoclase, microcline, biotite, and muscovite. Smaller amounts of apatite, zircon, tourmaline, magnetite, epidote, purple fluorite, and beryl have also been reported (C.A. Nelson and A.G. Sylvester, “Wall rock decarbonation and forcible emplacement of Birch Creek Pluton, southern White Mountains, California,” Geological Society of America Bulletin, Vol. 82, No. 10, 1971, pp. 2891–2904). While the morphology of the prismatic inclusion hinted at its identity, the hexagonal crystal was conclusively identified as beryl by laser Raman spectrometry. Also present in the fluorite were numerous veils of fluid inclusions and prominent color zoning (again, see above). This exciting discovery was the authors’ first encounter with beryl as an inclusion in fluorite.
