Plural of euclase, a rare transparent or translucent mineral that is a beryllium aluminum silicate, typically found in pegmatites and prized by collectors.
From Greek 'eu' (well) + 'klastos' (broken), referring to the mineral's tendency to cleave cleanly along certain planes. Named in the early 19th century by French mineralogists who observed this characteristic breaking pattern.
Euclase is so rare that most people have never seen one, but when jewelers do find gem-quality specimens, they facet them similarly to diamonds—the name literally describes how the mineral 'breaks well' along its crystal structure, making it easier to cut into beautiful stones.
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