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Green beryl and the yellow beryl variety heliodor are well known from the Volyn pegmatite field in Ukraine, and this study presents details of their morphological characteristics. Visible etch pits are characteristic of beryl from this locality. In addition, they may contain an organic matter called kerite. Formation of the etch pits is asso ciated with a fluorine-rich, late-stage fluid phase. Etch pits on the pinacoidal face have a hexagonal outline and a pointed bottom (originating at linear defects) transitioning to etch pits with very steep walls, and they occur in three different orders of magnitude: =500 µm, =50 µm, and 1-3 µm. On the first-order prismatic faces, etch pits with a flat bottom (originating from point defects) or pointed bottom are square to rectangular, the latter oriented parallel or perpendicular to the beryl's c-axis. Flat bottom etch pits are more abundant than pointed bottom and also occur in three different orders of magnitude. In addition, small etch pits with a canoe shape and porosity on the nanometer scale were observed. Scanning electron microscopy of these etch pits was used to distinguish uncut stones from other pegmatitic beryls, but these phenomena are also visible with an optical microscope or even with a loupe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]