RAW GEMSTONES OF MALYSHEV DEPOSIT (MIDDLE URALS) AND THEIR PLACE ON THE WORLD MARKET. CHRYSOBERYL AND ALEXANDRITE (ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY T.A. TIMAKINA)

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the major deposits of emerald, beryl (from emerald deposits) and the associated chrysoberyl, alexandrite, and phenakite, and to determine the place of Russian raw gemstones of the Malyshev deposit in global emerald production and market conditions. The paper consists of two parts. The first part deals with chrysoberyl and alexandrite occurrence in various deposits worldwide. Geology, mineralogical and gemological properties of chrysoberyl and alexandrite, genetic types of mineral deposits, level and production history are described. Russia is the second largest producer of chrysoberyl and alexandrite after Brazil. It is shown that the Urals alexandrite keeps a high level of demand and prices on world markets, but do not determine its economic situation giving way to the Brazilian alexandrite in terms of sales volume. It is shown that the main property of alexandrite - the "alexandrite effect” loses its aesthetic value in the modern structure of room lighting and remains a diagnostic property of the mineral...