Aquamarine is a pale-blue to light-green variety of the beryl family,[2] with its name relating to water and sea.[3] The color of aquamarine can be changed by heat, with a goal to enhance its physical appearance (though this practice is frowned upon by collectors and jewelers).[4] It is the birth stone of March.[5]
Aquamarine is a fairly common gemstone,[6] rendering it more accessible for purchase, compared to other gems in the beryl family.[7] Overall, its value is determined by weight, color,[5] cut, and clarity.[8]
It is transparent to translucent and possesses a hexagonal crystal system.[9] Aquamarine mainly forms in granite pegmatites and hydrothermal veins,[10] and it is a very lengthy process that can take millions of years to form.[9]
Aquamarine is blue with hues of green, caused by trace amounts of iron found within the crystal structure. It can vary from pale to vibrant and transparent to translucent. Better transparency in aquamarine gemstones means that light may go through the crystal with less interference. The hexagonal crystal system is where aquamarine crystallizes. Prismatic crystals with a hexagonal cross-section are formed by it.[9][16] These crystals can be microscopic to enormous in size and frequently feature faces with vertical striating. The lustre of aquamarine ranges from vitreous to resinous. It can have a glass-like brilliance and a sheen when cut and polished correctly.[9]
Aquamarine mainly forms in granite pegmatites (coarse-grained igneous rock) and hydrothermal vents. The remaining liquid that is left behind after granitic magma crystallizes is what gives rise to pegmatites.[10][9] The residual fluids, which are rich in volatile elements and minerals such as silicon, aluminum, and beryllium, concentrate when the magma cools and solidifies.[9]
Aquamarine may also be formed by hydrothermal fluids, which are hot, mineral-rich solutions. These liquids contain dissolved minerals and metals as they move through fissures and cavities in the crust of the Earth. Fractures, faults, and veins are just a few of the geological environments that hydrothermal systems can be linked to.[9]
Beryllium is a necessary component for the production of aquamarine, a type of beryl. Although beryllium is a relatively uncommon element in the crust of the Earth, it can be found in concentrated forms in some geological settings. These include beryllium-rich hydrothermal systems and granite pegmatites, which contain large amounts of beryllium-bearing minerals.[9]
The dissolved elements start to precipitate out of the solution and form crystals as the hydrothermal fluids cool and come into contact with the right minerals and circumstances. Crystals of beryl, which include aquamarine, begin to form in pegmatite veins and host rock fissures or cavities. Aquamarine crystals grow over long periods, which enables them to take on their distinctive hexagonal prismatic shape.[9]
The value of aquamarine is determined by its weight, color,[5] cut, and clarity.[8] Due to its relative abundance, aquamarine is comparatively less expensive than other gemstones within the beryl group, such as emerald or bixbite (red beryl), however it is typically more expensive than similarly colored gemstones such as blue topaz.[19][6] Maxixe is a rarer variant of aquamarine, with its deep blue coloration,[19] however, its color can fade due to sunlight.[1] The color of maxixe is caused by NO3.[20] Dark-blue maxixe color can be produced in green, pink or yellow beryl by irradiating it with high-energy radiation (gamma rays, neutrons or even X-rays).[21] Naturally occurring blue hued aquamarine specimens are more expensive than those that have undergone heat treatment to reduce yellow tones caused by ferric iron.[6] Cut aquamarines that are over 25 carats will have a lower price per carat than smaller ones of the same quality.[22] Overall, the quality and color will vary depending on the source of the gem.[9]
Aquamarine is the birth stone for the month of March.[5] It has historically been used a symbol for youth and happiness due to its color, which has also, along with its name, made Western culture connect it with the ocean.[23][22] Ancient tales have claimed that aquamarine came from the treasure chests of mermaids; which led to sailors using this gemstone as a lucky charm to protect against shipwreck.[24] Additionally, ancient Romans believed this stone had healing properties, due to the stone being almost invisible when submerged in water.[7][10]
The Egyptians, Greeks, Hebrews, and Sumerians all believed that aquamarine stones were worn by the High Priest of the Second Temple. It was said that these stones were engraved to represent the six tribes of Israel. Greeks also engraved designs into aquamarine 2 thousand years ago and turned them into intaglios.[27]
Aquamarine can be found in countries like Afghanistan, China, Kenya, Pakistan, Russia, Mozambique, the United States,[29] Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka,[30] Malawi, India,[5] Zimbabwe, Australia, Myanmar, and Namibia.[31] The state of Minas Gerais is a major source for aquamarine.[6]
The largest known example is the Dom Pedro aquamarine found in Pedra Azul, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the late 1980's. It weighs roughly 4.6 pounds, cut from a 100-pound aquamarine crystal, and measures 10,363 carats. It resides in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington.[32]
The initial stages of the aquamarine mining process involve prospecting and exploration. Finding prospective locations or regions with aquamarine reserves is necessary. Geological mapping, remote sensing, mapping, remote sensing, sampling,[12] and other methods are used by geologists and mining firms to locate potentially aquamarine-containing geological formations and structures. Preparation of the site is the next step, which includes removing any vegetation, leveling the land, and constructing the facilities - such as access roads and workspaces. It is possible to mine aquamarine using both open-pit and underground techniques. This will depend on the size of the operation, the features of the deposit, and environmental conditions.[9]
The most popular technique for extracting aquamarine on a large scale is open-pit mining.[12] In order to reveal the aquamarine-bearing ore, the soil, vegetation, and rock cover must be removed. The ore is extracted using trucks, bulldozers, and excavators, to remove the material.[9]
Underground mining may occasionally be used to obtain aquamarine reserves. This process entails digging shafts and tunnels[12] to reach the ore bodies or veins that contain gems. When the aquamarine deposit is deep or the surrounding rock is too hard for open-pit extraction, underground mining is used, even though it can be more difficult and expensive than open-pit mining.[9]
After extraction, the ore containing aquamarine is delivered to a processing plant. To extract the aquamarine crystals from the surrounding rock and other minerals, the ore is crushed, processed, and occasionally cleaned. The aquamarine can be concentrated and purified using a variety of methods, such as magnetic separation, froth flotation, and gravity separation.[9]
The aquamarine crystals are then sorted according to size, shape, color, and clarity following the initial processing. The gemstones are assessed and graded by gemologists and experts according to predetermined standards, such as the four C's (color, clarity, cut, and carat weight). Only the best aquamarine crystals are chosen to be used in jewelry made of gemstones.[9]
Aquamarine is classified as a durable gem, however, it may still be damaged. In storage, it is advised to place it on its own, without the interruption of other gemstones to prevent scratches. Warm soapy water and a soft brush are the best ways to clean this gemstone, however, ultrasonic cleaners are relatively safe for aquamarine.[9]
Although aquamarine is mainly used for jewelry,[11] aquamarine powder has proven to be a beneficial ingredient in cosmetics. It has a binding and skin protecting function that ensures protection of the skin from external influences.[33]
Named after the color of sea water, aquamarine is the blue to blue-green member of the beryl family. Readily available and moderately priced, the modern March birthstone makes an excellent jewelry stone.
Aqua marina * is Latin for "seawater", so when a lovely blue-green form of the semiprecious gem known as beryl was given an English name several centuries ago, *aquamarine seemed appropriate. Aquamarine is the ideal color that most of us carry around in our heads when we imagine the waters that lap the shores of the Greek and Caribbean islands on a sunny day. But even the Mediterranean and the Caribbean can take on lots of other colors depending on weather conditions.
Hello Sellers and Happy Day to All! I am trying to confirm that a pair of earrings are aquamarine. I have a Presidium Gem Tester II and I cannot find any information on where this gem would register on the tester. Is there someone here selling jewelry, aquamarines, that can help me with this? I have tried and tried to figure it out and I just can't find any information on the web that I can make sense of. If someone could send me a picture of what you know is aquamarine and how is registers on the Presidium tester, I would really appreciate the help. Thanks so much everyone!!!
Oh, one extra note. Make sure that you wipe with acetone any gemstone just b/f testing it. This will make sure that you are testing the gem and not the oil/dust that might be on the gem (even an invisible amount of oil from touching the gem could interfere with getting an accurate reading).
I have know idea but I'm thinking of buying one of these testers myself. I do know one of our team members @idealgems1 is a trusted expert in this field, while we wait for him can you post of photo of your Aquamarine?
Sorry, no help with the Presidium tool. As a Graduate Gemologist, the determinative test for aquamarine versus blue topaz, synthetic spinel, or another gem material would be refractive index. It's a simple and straightforward test, but it does require you having a refractometer, refractive index test fluid, and a monochromatic light source. Back in the day we would buy our gemological equipment from GIA's Gem Instruments Corporation. Today, various jewelry tool and equipment distributors also have decent selections.