Chemical analyses and physical properties are given for six samples of beryl from greisenized granites, pegmatites, and beryl-quartz veins in the Rosses granite complex. The beryls studied were all very similar in composition and contain significant amounts of alkali elements and water in addition to the constituents represented by the formula Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈. Calculation of the empirical unit cell contents indicates that most of the H₂O+ is present in the mineral as water molecules. The effects of these extra constituents on the physical properties are discussed, and it is suggested that the variation in refractive indices displayed by beryl is to a large extent attributable to the variable water content.