Star Beryl

Star beryl is often brown in color and display a weak 6 rayed star. The stone may look very similar to black star sapphire. In beryl, the star effect is not from sets of needles or needle-like inclusions, but instead from plates of ilmenite and hematite, which are oriented in certain positions parallel to the basal plane. These plates may also give the stone its dark brown color; if it is viewed parallel to the plates, clear transparent areas are seen.

Another feature is the hexagonal shield which is seen at the point where the rays intersect. This unique feature makes it easy to separate it from other star stones. The characteristic inclusions seen in star beryl are extremely thin plate-like dendrites of ilmenite (black) and hematite (orange) on the basal plane.