List of emeralds by size

This is a list of emeralds by size.

Emeralds

Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆) colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. ^[1] Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale.^[1] Most emeralds are highly included,^[2] so their toughness (resistance to breakage) is classified as generally poor. Emerald is a cyclosilicate.

Emeralds in antiquity were mined in Egypt at locations on Mount Smaragdus since 1500 BCE, and India, and Austria since at least the 14^th century CE.^[3] The Egyptian mines were exploited on an industrial scale by the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and later by Islamic conquerors. Mining ceased with the discovery of the Colombian deposits; only ruins remain.^[4]

Colombia is historically an important producer of emeralds, constituting 50–95% of the world production, with the number depending on the year, source and grade.^[5][6][7][8] Emerald production in Colombia has increased drastically in the last decade, increasing by 78% from 2000 to 2010.^[9] The three main emerald mining areas in Colombia are Muzo, Coscuez and Chivor.^[10] Rare "trapiche" emeralds are found in Colombia, distinguished by ray-like spokes of dark impurities.

Zambia is the world's second biggest producer, with Kagem mine being the world's largest emerald mine^[11] responsible for 25–30% of the world's production of gem-quality stones.^[12] In 2019 Kagem emerald mine produced 42.4 million carats of emeralds.^[13] The Zambian emerald sector is an important contributor of tax revenue to the Government.

Zambian emeralds were formed over 500 million years ago, they are geologically much older than emeralds from other origins. As a result, they differ in their formation, composition and key features. Zambian emeralds get their intense green colour from the presence of chromium, iron and beryllium, and they are often lacking in vanadium, resulting in a bluish-green, lively and often eye-clean emerald.

Notable emeralds

Emerald	Origin	Date	Uncut size	Cut size	Location	Ref
Chipembele emerald	Zambia	2021	7,525 carats (1,505.0 g)		Israel Diamond Exchange, Eshed – Gemstar	[14][15][16]
Inkalamu emerald		2018	5,655 carats (1,131.0 g)		Private Collector	[17]
Insofu emerald		2010	6,255 carats (1,251.0 g)		Jewellery brand	[18]
Bahia Emerald	Brazil	2001	180,000 carats (36,000 g)[a]		Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department	[19][20]
Carolina Emperor	United States	2009	310 carats (62 g)	64.8 carats (12.96 g)	North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh	[21][22]
Chalk Emerald	Colombia		38.40 carats (7.680 g)	37.82 carats (7.564 g)	National Museum of Natural History, Washington
Duke of Devonshire Emerald		>1831	1,383.93 carats (276.786 g)		Natural History Museum, London
Emerald of Saint Louis	Austria[b]			51.60 carats (10.320 g)	National Museum of Natural History, Paris
Gachalá Emerald	Colombia	1967		858 carats (171.6 g)	National Museum of Natural History, Washington	[23]
Mogul Mughal Emerald		1107 A.H.[c]		217.80 carats (43.560 g)	Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
Patricia Emerald		1920		632 carats (126.4 g)[d]	American Museum of Natural History, New York	[24]
Mim Emerald		2014		1,390 carats (278 g)[e]	Mim Museum, Beirut	[25]

See also

• List of gold nuggets by size
• List of sapphires by size
• List of individual gemstones