Emeralds are the bluish-green to pure-green variant of the mineral beryl, which also forms
aquamarine and
morganite. If the color of the stone is more on the yellow or blue side of green, it’s probably not an emerald, but another beryl variety. Chromium, vanadium and iron are the trace elements responsible for the emerald’s vivid green hue. These beautiful stones are relatively rare and only found in a few locations worldwide, including Colombia, Zambia, Madagascar, Canada and Russia.