Gemstone Glossary

Habachtal

A valley in the Austrian Alps with a famous emerald mine that reportedly has been known since bronce age. The mine is probably the source of most emeralds used in European jewellery until the discovery of the Indian and later the South American deposits. The Roman emperor Nero is said to have possessed a monocle cut from a Habachtal emerald. The largest known specimen weighs 42cts and is kept in the London tower.

Habit

The typical crystal appearance of a mineral; e.g. tabular hexagonal, columnar prismatic etc.