Provenite

Muzo Mine

MineUnknownDraft data

5.5353° N, 74.1464° W · ± 1 km

Beryl and Emerald from Boyaca, Colombia, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

BerylEmerald

Beryl at Muzo Mine

Emerald-green beryl crystals on dark shale or with calcite are the classic appearance of this Colombian locality.

Green beryl crystal with small calcite crystals from the Muzo Mine, Colombia.
Green beryl crystal with small calcite crystals from the Muzo Mine, Colombia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Morphology
Compound hexagonal crystals with multiple shelf terminations; intergrown clusters
Typical size
Pictured examples roughly 1-3 cm
Color / luster
Green to bluish green, lustrous
Associated minerals
Calcitepyrite (on shale matrix)
Trace elements
Cr (and sometimes V) is the colouring agent of emerald-green beryl
History
Muzo and Coscuez are named among the prized Colombian emerald sources.

Sources: SRC-276 SRC-277 SRC-267

About Beryl →

Emerald at Muzo Mine

Deep green, transparent crystals set in white calcite and black shale matrix

A 6 cm emerald crystal set in calcite and shale matrix from the Muzo Mine.
A 6 cm emerald crystal set in calcite and shale matrix from the Muzo Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Cluster of intergrown light green emerald crystals up to 1.7 cm with parallel-growth faces, Muzo Mine.
Cluster of intergrown light green emerald crystals up to 1.7 cm with parallel-growth faces, Muzo Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Bluish-green emerald crystal of 2.7 cm in shale matrix with a small pyrite crystal, Muzo Mine.
Bluish-green emerald crystal of 2.7 cm in shale matrix with a small pyrite crystal, Muzo Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A 1 cm deep green emerald on calcite and shale matrix with pyrite microcrystals, Muzo Mine.
A 1 cm deep green emerald on calcite and shale matrix with pyrite microcrystals, Muzo Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be3Al2Si6O18
Morphology
Hexagonal prisms with flat or stepped pinacoid terminations; single crystals, compound crystals and intergrown clusters
Typical size
Crystals mostly 0.5-2 cm; matrix crystals up to about 6 cm
Color / luster
Saturated grass-green to slightly bluish green, vitreous
Associated minerals
Calcitepyrite
Surface features
Parallel-growth faces; occasional pyramidal terminations

Sources: SRC-266 SRC-816

About Emerald →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Muzo emerald deposit in the western emerald belt of Colombia (Vasquez-Yacopi mining district); crystals on the photo pages sit on shale or calcite with pyrite.
Host rock
Shale (matrix of the pictured specimen)
Region
Boyaca
Country
Colombia

A general reference lists Muzo among the classic Colombian emerald sources. Coordinates left empty because no source opened for this task gave them. Coordinates: Muzo Mine position from the Mindat locality page (5 32' 7'' N, 74 8' 47'' W); decimal converted from degrees/minutes/seconds. Muzo town is about 5 km to the east-southeast. Coordinates: Muzo Mine position from the Mindat locality page (5 32' 7'' N, 74 8' 47'' W); decimal converted from degrees/minutes/seconds. Muzo town is about 5 km to the east-southeast. Coordinates: Muzo Mine position from the Mindat locality page (5 32' 7'' N, 74 8' 47'' W); decimal converted from degrees/minutes/seconds. Muzo town is about 5 km to the east-southeast.

Sources: SRC-276 SRC-277 SRC-267 SRC-308

Sources

  1. SRC-276 · Website
    File:Beryl-173514.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (read via mirror)Wikimedia Commons (file page; photo by Robert M. Lavinsky) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  2. SRC-277 · Website
    File:Beryl-233190.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (read via mirror)Wikimedia Commons (file page; photo by Robert M. Lavinsky) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  3. SRC-267 · Website
    BerylWikipedia contributors · 2026 · Wikipedia
  4. SRC-308 · Website
    Muzo Mine, Muzo Municipality, Western Boyaca Province, Boyaca Department, Colombia - Mindat
  5. SRC-266 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - BerylAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2001 · Mineralogical Society of America / Mineral Data Publishing
  6. SRC-816 · Website
    File:Beryl-119373.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.