About that so-called "836-pound, Billion-dollar emerald"

[kenny]

Judge rules US must return ‘cursed’ $1B emerald to Brazil after 23 years

An 836-pound “cursed” emerald worth nearly $1 billion will be returned to Brazil after 15 years under lock and key in Los Angeles.

nypost.com

Be sure to read the comments below that article.

I ain't no GG, but I seriously doubt that big mass of grey stuff is emerald crystal.
While it's hard to judge size from a pic that doesn't include a reference such as a ruler or a human hand, I'd guess that nearly all of that "836 lb emerald" is not emerald crystal.

Also, there is no scientific proof for delusions like curses, but it sells papers to fans of those rags!

 

[Nick_G]

It's emerald crystals in mica schist by the look of it. There's a lot more schist than emerald though!

 

[stracci2000]

Here's a pic of some dude holding it

 

[LilAlex]

I was curious about this too since unlike so many of these "world's largest" ruby, opal, black diamond, etc., this looks like there are enormous potentially gem-quality crystals in there. And, no, I don't think it's the tip of the iceberg -- I think we are seeing the full potential. But if that's an #800 rock those could be 4" - 6" crystals, maybe?

 

[toomuchB]

I was curious about this too since unlike so many of these "world's largest" ruby, opal, black diamond, etc., this looks like there are enormous potentially gem-quality crystals in there. And, no, I don't think it's the tip of the iceberg -- I think we are seeing the full potential. But if that's an #800 rock those could be 4" - 6" crystals, maybe?

Agreed, very large crystals that are unappealing superficially can have large gemmy areas, and if not, there is still value as an impressive mineral specimen. Those are well formed, huge crystals. It reminds me of those giant tanzanite crystals they found that look like duds but most likely have huge potential.

Largest Tanzanite In History Discovered

A Tanzanian small-scale miner has just discovered the biggest Tanzanites in history, worth $3.3m

www.theraregemstonecompany.com

If there are no major gemmy areas, it still has value such as these specimens. 1 Billion USD, probably not.

Emerald with Biotite and Graphite - BGB20-35 - Nova Era - Brazil Mineral Specimen

Emerald with Biotite and Graphite, Nova Era, Minas Gerais, Brazil, small-cabinet, 8.2 x 7.5 x 4.0 cm, WOW!, For sale from The Arkenstone, www.iRocks.com. For more details on this piece and others, visit https://www.irocks.com/minerals/specimen/49022

www.irocks.com

Emerald on Quartz - KAGEM-1 - Kagem Emerald Mine - Zambia Mineral Specimen

Emerald on Quartz, Kagem Emerald Mine, Kafubu, Ndola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia, small-cabinet, 7.9 x 7.0 x 4.5 cm, This specimen is a very rich plate of emeralds embedded in massive quartz matrix, with a thin coating of mica-schist on the exposed upper surface where the emeralds pop out of...

www.irocks.com

This is not the same as those gigantic opaque 'rubies' etc like this.

 

[VividRed]

“The back-and-forth over the massive jewel led to rumors that it might be cursed.“

By the logic every ruby I bought is cursed as well, with all this back and forth and such