aquamarine
aquamarine crystal from Namibia
aquamarines from Brazil
aquamarine Wolkonsky cut
natural aquamarine crystals on mica from Pakistan
aquamarine crystal from Brazil
aquamarine crystal from Shigar, Pakistan
aquamarine crystal from Shigar, Pakistan, with inclusions
aquamarine and topaz crystals from Pakistan
liquid and gas inclusions in gas bubbles
gas – liquid inclusion in a bubble
parallel growth tubes – type inclusions in aquamarine
liquid type inclusions, iridescent confetti
Detailed sheet
aquamarine
Its name comes from the latin “aqua marina”, meaning “water of the sea”, because of its seawater color, the dark blue is the most desidered color…like the ocean! Belongs to the beryl group, same as Emerald which is a deep green beryl.
Aquamarines have been since ages appreciated because they often show big crytals of perfect transparency and a pure color of water sea. For example a wonderful antical intaglio, set on a gold setting of the 9th century, one time poperty of Charlemagne and which represents Julie, daughter of the Roman Emperor Titus. The most valuable are the “Santa Maria” coming from Brazil because they are of a deep blue.
Gemologists identify them with the Chelsea filter : they turn green or blue.
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Al2Be3[Si6O18]
beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
blue
due to iron, pale to dark blue, or green blue. The dark blue is the most desidered color, it is a blue beryl.
Color of streak
white
Luster
vitreous
Hardness
7.5 to 8.0
Density
2.68 to 2.75
Cleavage
indistinct
Fracture
conchoidal
brittle, sensible to shocks
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
translucent, transparent
translucent to opaque for non gem quality
Refractive index
1.565 - 1.595
Double refraction
0.004
very weak, uniaxial (-)
visible double refraction
No
Dispersion
0.014(0.009)
Pleochroism
definite
Number of colors
2
pale blue almost colorless, deep blue. (sometimes light green).
Absorption spectrum
537 - 456 - 427
aquamarine spectrum system
Fluorescence
none
Inclusions
inclusion of fine, orientated hollows rodscan cause chatoyancy or asterism.
Fine inclusions : ilmenite, feldspar, garnet, tourmaline, rutile…
CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
hexagonal crystals, isolated or included in a gangue
crystals system
hexagonal
OTHER INFORMATIONS
Astrological sign
Capricorn, Gemini, Taurus, Virgo
Month
march
Chinese astrological sign
Ox
APPROACHING GEMS
Exploited
sites
The most productive are located in Brazil. The mines of the Cerara, where the stones have a deep blue color, so called “Santa Maria”, and the one of the Maxixe mine which have a beautiful color but lighten when exposed to light. Nowadays, pegmatites of Medina, Maramabaïa, Fortaleza, Aracuai…in the Minas Gerais are still exploted, but also the mines in the State of Bahia (Veruga), Rio Grande Do Norte (Sao Tome), Espirito Santo (Itaguacu, Santa Teresa, Colatina). Other deposits are located in Madagascar (Tongafeno, deep blue aquamarine mined since the 19th century), in Australia (Queensland), Birmanie, India, China, Nepal, Afghanistan, USA, Kenya, Mozambique (Alto Ligonha, Monapo), Namibia, Zibabwe (Karoi, Mwani, Kariba), Zambia (Lundazi, Jogoda), Nigeria (Jos plateau), Russia (Oural).
However beautiful vivid light blue aquamarine come from the Shigar, Chumar Bakar mines and other mines located in the Pakistan Northern mountains.
Aquamarine crystals weighting a few tons have been found, opaque and grey, not suitable for cutting, the largest aquamarine of gemstone quality was found in Marambaya, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. It weighted over 110 kg (243 lb), was 48,5 cm (18 in) long and 42 cm (15,5 in) in diameter, and was cut into many stones with a total weight of 100 000 carats. A crystal weighting 15 kg was found in Murtaza and another of 4 kg in 1994. The Leningrad Shool of Mines owns several crystals, almost 30 cm long and 3 cm in diameter.
use in jewelry
The cut is a step cut, and scissor cut, ovale or rectangular form, low quality gems are cut in cabochons or balls in order to set them as necklaces.
Aquamarine remains one of the most appreciated gems thanks to their non-aggressive color.
The term “oriental aquamarine” which was used to design light blue sapphires is forbidden, such as “Siamese aquamarine” which ws used for the blue zircons.
Aquamarine is the stone for the 19th wedding anniversary.
According to the old-time traditions, it would facilitate fidelty and happiness in love and the matrimony, it has often been the engagement stone.
Daily care
and precautions
It is relatively fragile and sensible to chocks and heat. Cleaning with warm water and dishwashing liquid, then to be rinsed out with soft water (because marks can stay with hard water), then use alcohol.
imitations and
treatments
Synthetic aquamarine does not exist because it is hard to produce, it is uneconomical. But can be confused with synthetic blue spinel, blue glass dyed with cobalt or beryllium, synthetic blue quartz, blue zircons and doublets.Aquamarine color is often improved by heating, wavelet and snowballs like inclusions allow to identify them. Treatments by irradiation are no longer used because the color change do not last, and the stones lightens when exposed to sunlight. Nevertheless treatment of beryls by irradiation with radio-cobalt is common, it produces aquamarine so called “marxiste” of a vivid blue, with an aggressive, non natural aspect, which fade in time. Those “marxites” turn pink under the Chelsea filter and are easy to identify.
improvements
Heated to 400-500°C (725-850° F), the blue hue obtained is generally permanent but higher heat can lead to discoloration.
Historical
healing properties
Aquamarine which symbolizes innocence, youth, detachment, purity, altruism…would make people happy and would procurate wibes which turn the spirit into a mirror where the immensity of the mental activity will be refleted in, bringing light upon the more obscur corners. Its radiance would harmonize and balance the body and the mental, promoting a general weel-being, reducing aggressivity and giving hope.
It would ensure the power to be loved, it would increase tenderness in the couple.
It would keep sea travelers safe and would move away storms. It would be used to make enriched water, excellent way to link vibratory strengths together. It would clarify vision, making it clear, limpid.
In the Middle age, it was thought to ease toothache while wearing an aquamarine necklace.
It would be related to the throat chakra by stimulating it softly, providing calm and relax, allowing a lucid and independent thought. As water it symbolizes smoothness, purity and appeased immensity.
Other
Gems
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