'Emperor' Emerald Found in North Carolina: Big Pics
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Aug. 31, 2010 -- A nearly 65-carat emerald has been found on a farm in Hiddenite, North Carolina, sparking comparisons between it and a stone once worn by Russian empress Catherine the Great. Nicknamed "Carolina Emperor," experts say the stone is the largest emerald ever found in North America.
The area around Hiddenite is famous for its emeralds, which are otherwise rare in North America. Emeralds require a unique set of geological conditions to grow: high-temperature fluids laced with beryllium must infiltrate rocks with just a hint of chromium in them, which leaches out and gives the stones their characteristic green hue.
Image: AP Photo/C.R. "Cap" Beesley
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