What Is Aquamarine?
Aquamarine is a semiprecious gemstone known for its intense, sky blue. The stone gets it color because of iron impurities that are present during its formation, and also because it forms as part of a granite pegmatite, a type of metamorphic rock created far below the surface of Earth. Much of the aquamarine that is on the market has been treated with heat so that its color is enhanced. Does this Spark an idea?
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Name
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According to Gemstone.org, the name "aquamarine" comes from the Latin words for "water," which is "aqua," and "sea," which is "mare."
Hardness
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Aquamarine is a very durable stone. While a diamond is considered the toughest stone, measuring a 10 on the Mohs scale for hardness, an aquamarine rates from 7.5 to 8.
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Sources
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Some of the areas where aquamarine is mined are Madagascar, Tanzania and Zambia. The Batadal Mine in Brazil is famed for the discovery of the Papamel aquamarine, found in 1910, whose weight exceeded 550,000 carats.
Properties
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This stone was once considered a protective talisman for sailors. It is believed that wearing the gem can help relieve health problems with the throat or communicating with others, and the stone is also associated with such attributes as courage and fidelity.
Birthstone
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Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and is related to the Zodiac sign of Pisces, the fish.
Value
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An aqaumarine's color plays a major role it its value; the more intense its shade, the more expensive it is. An eight-carat stone that is pale in color is less valuable than a three-carat gem that is a deep blue.
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