What is Aquamarine?
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What is Aquamarine?
The name “aquamarine” is derived from two Latin words: aqua, meaning “water,” and marina, meaning “of the sea.”
Aquamarine minerals and gemstones are variety of a beryl. Its colour is blue to greenish blue or pale blue. It comes in shape of rough and crystal both. Crystals can be big in sizes. The elements in Aquamarine are Beryllium, Aluminum, Silicate. Beryl can be in many varieties of colours. Blue variety is called Aquamarine. The hardness of Aquamarine is 7.5 to 8. Crystals of aquamarine can be larger sizes.
Green aquamarine can be heated at very high temperature in order to get blue colour.
Largest Ever Aquamarine Crystal Mined?
This aquamarine is found as the largest aquamarine crystal. Location is confused between Skardu Pakistan or Afghanistan. However, claim of its location other than Pakistan or Afghanistan is false. It is almost two feet and weight is 60 pound.
Largest Ever Aquamarine Cut?
The gem was designed and cut by gem artist Bernd Munsteiner. It stands 14 inches tall and weighs 10,363 carats — or nearly 5 pounds.
It's difficult to place a value on the gem, though it was offered to the Smithsonian in the late 1990s for $7 million to $10 million, Forex published
What are Aquamarine Properties?
Chemical Formula |
Be3Al2Si6O18 |
Colour |
Blue, Green Blue, Pale Blue, Deep Sky Blue |
Hardness |
7.5 to 8 |
Refractive Index |
1.577-1.583 (+0.017, - 0.017) |
Streak |
Colorless |
Crystal System |
Hexagonal |
Habit |
Prismatic |
Luster |
Vitreous |
Cleavage |
3,1 - basal |
Transparency |
Transparent to translucent |
Fracture |
Uneven to conchoidal |
Tenacity |
Brittle |
Group |
Silicates; Cyclosilicates |
Rock Type |
Igneous |
How Aquamarine Get its Colour?
How aquamarine gemstones and minerals get their colour? Aquamarine is a variety of beryl. The presence of iron turns the Beryl Blue / Green blue making it Aquamarine.
Locations of Aquamarine in the World
Aquamarine is found mostly in following location of the world.
- Brazil
- Angla, Kenya
- central Madagascar,
- Malawi,
- Nigeria,
- Mozambique,
- Pakistan,
- the Ural Mountains in Russia,
- Tanzania,
- Colorado
- USA
- Zambia
- Vietnam
What is history of Aquamarine?
Historically, evidence locates first use of aquamarine by Romans and Greek around the time period 480 to 300 BC. Since 7th century, it had been getting popularity. Usually, ancient sailors used to wear it or keep it with them. They used to believe that it kept them strong, fearless and protected them from forthcoming problems, disasters or wrath of oceans.
The Romans in their period used to believe on aquamarine and fix it in jewelry. They had belief that carving different figures on aquamarine will help them in saving from enemies. They used to give it gift to the bridegrooms, sailors and on many other occasions. During the Medieval era of the Middle Ages, the people believe on love feelings awakening by this gemstone. It was said that it increases young age and intelligence. It gives courage and happiness.
In documents, aquamarine discovery first took place in 1723 in the Adun-Chalon Mountains in Siberia. Though deposits were abundant and later it quickly turned into major mining site. The peak production happened in 1796. It produced almost 70 Killo gram gem quality aquamarine during that year.
What are Geological and Geographic Occurrences of Aquamarine?
What are geological or geographical occurrences of aquamarine? In order to understand aquamarine, one must be aware of beryl that how it is formed and appear. Beryl is usually found in granitic pegmatites. Pegmatites are large structures comprising of interlocking minerals and rocks.
A natural geological process causes the appearance of deposits towards the surface area. From these pegmatites, one can locate the presence of deposits. The presence of iron in beryl will turn beryl to aquamarine during crystallization process. In case of little or other impurities present during the process, gem will appear in other forms such as emerald, Morganite.
How gemstones get their specific colours? Read this article https://geogemsmineralclub.com/blogs/gems-and-mineral-identifications/how-gems-minerals-get-their-specific-colours