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How does the emerald get its color?

Emerald is a variety of green beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O_l8). Beryl is a transparent-to-translucent glassy material. This material gets its color from a trace of chromium (Cr), which replaces the aluminum (Al) in the beryl structure. Other green beryls exist. However, to be technically considered "emeralds" there must be chromium present.

Source: Arem, Joel E. Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones, 2nd ed., pp. 51-52.

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