Emerald

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/emerald

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the mineral group?Beryl (a cyclosilicate)
2. What is the chemical composition?Beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate (Be3Al2(SiO3)6)
3. Why is an emerald green?The green color comes from chromium or sometimes vanadium atoms that replace aluminum in the crystal. These atoms change how light is absorbed, making the stone look green.
4. Where do emeralds grow?Emeralds grow in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites, often near metamorphic or igneous rocks. Major places that mine emeralds are Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, and Russia.

Cyclosilicate: A mineral classification characterized by ring structures of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra in its crystal lattice.
Trace Elements: Chemical elements present in a mineral in minute quantities, often responsible for its color or other properties.
Toughness: A mineral's resistance to breaking or chipping, distinct from hardness (resistance to scratching).
Hydrothermal Veins: Cracks in rocks filled with mineral-rich hot water, where gemstones like emeralds can form.