NASA Ames is named in honor of Joseph Sweetman Ames, a physicist and one of the founding members of NACA. At last estimate NASA Ames has over US$3.0 billion in capital equipment, 2,300 research personnel and a US$860 million annual budget.
Beryl, the mineral of which emerald is a variety, has a chemical composition of Be 3 Al 2 (SiO 3) 6. When pure, beryl is colorless and known as goshenite.. Trace amounts of chromium or vanadium in the mineral cause it to develop a green color.
1 Emeralds are the most precious of the beryl gemstones and related to aquamarine. 2  The word emerald is derived from the Greek word smaragdos and means green stone.. 3  Pure beryl is colorless. 4  The signature grass green color of an emerald is due to trace amounts of chromium and vanadium.