Mineralogical characteristics
Alexandrite is a very rare and highly valued gem variety of chrysoberyl. It is an aluminum and beryllium oxide of great resistance, surpassed in hardness only by corundum and diamond.
It forms in pegmatites and mica schists. Its most notable feature is its color change: green in natural light and red under artificial light.
It is named after the Russian Tsar Alexander II, and it is said to have been discovered in the Urals on his birthday.
Deposits
Russia, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Madagascar.
Therapeutic properties
It is considered a stone of cleansing, purification and regeneration. It encourages intuition, open-mindedness and personal confidence. It is also associated with creativity and inner strength.