Comparison · Minerals
Beryl vs Tourmaline
Beryl and Tourmaline are easy to confuse because both are minerals. Both sit near Mohs 7.5–8, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their properties and the quick tests that separate them.
Key differences between Beryl and Tourmaline
- Both sit near Mohs 7.5–8, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
- Streak color differs: Beryl leaves a white streak on unglazed porcelain, Tourmaline leaves white (colorless).
- Hold a thin edge to the light: Beryl is Transparent to translucent, Tourmaline is Transparent to opaque.
- They overlap in green, blue, and pink, but Beryl also comes in yellow and clear and Tourmaline also comes in black and multicolored.
- Well-formed crystals give it away: Beryl is Hexagonal, Tourmaline is Trigonal.
Beryl vs Tourmaline properties
| Property | Beryl | Tourmaline |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Minerals | Minerals |
| Mohs hardness | 7.5–8 | 7–7.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | White (colorless) |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent | Transparent to opaque |
| Specific gravity | 2.63–2.92 | 3.0–3.25 |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal | Trigonal |
| Common colors | Green (emerald), Blue (aquamarine), Pink (morganite), Yellow (heliodor), Colorless (goshenite) | Black, Green, Pink, Blue, Multicolored (watermelon) |
| Rarity | common | common |
| Typical specimen value | $2–$150+ | $2–$150+ |
Which is more valuable?
Typical specimens of Beryl and Tourmaline trade in a similar range, around $20.
About Beryl
Beryl is a beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate, Be3Al2Si6O18, that crystallizes in the hexagonal system as six-sided prisms. Pure beryl is colorless, but trace elements produce a family of well-known gem varieties, including green emerald, blue-green aquamarine, and pink morganite. It typically forms in granite pegmatites, where slow cooling allows large, well-formed crystals to develop.
About Tourmaline
Tourmaline is not a single mineral but a group of complex borosilicates sharing a trigonal crystal structure and the general formula XY3Z6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4, with composition varying widely among species such as schorl, elbaite, and dravite. It has the widest color range of any mineral group, from jet-black schorl to multicolored elbaite crystals that can shift from pink to green along a single crystal, called watermelon tourmaline. It is also both piezoelectric and pyroelectric, generating an electric charge under pressure or heat.
Beryl vs Tourmaline FAQ
Is Beryl the same as Tourmaline?
No. Both are minerals, but they are distinct species with different hardness, streak or luster. Both sit near Mohs 7.5–8, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
How can you tell Beryl from Tourmaline?
Both sit near Mohs 7.5–8, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Streak color differs: Beryl leaves a white streak on unglazed porcelain, Tourmaline leaves white (colorless). Hold a thin edge to the light: Beryl is Transparent to translucent, Tourmaline is Transparent to opaque.
Which is harder, Beryl or Tourmaline?
Beryl is harder: Mohs 7.5–8 against Mohs 7–7.5 for Tourmaline.
Which is more valuable, Beryl or Tourmaline?
Typical specimens of Beryl and Tourmaline trade in a similar range, around $20.
