About the Mineral Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family of minerals that include emeralds and the less common morganite. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March.

Geography

Russia, Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and the United States produce aquamarine, but the best quality stones come from Brazil.

Hardness

Aquamarine is a hard mineral, with a rating between 7.5 and 8 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. It is harder than quartz but softer than ruby or sapphire.

Colors

The color of aquamarine varies from a pale shade of blue to a much deeper hue; trace amounts of iron within an aquamarine give an individual mineral its color.

Heated

Aquamarine heated to temperatures of about 750 degrees Fahrenheit will make the color even darker.

Fun Fact

Aquamarine takes its name from Latin words meaning "water" (aqua) and "sea" (marine) since its colors reminded the ancients of water in the ocean. Sailors considered aquamarine a good-luck charm and would wear the stones on their voyages.

References

• Galleries.com:Aquamarines
• Aquamarines.us:Aquamarines
• Gemstone.org:Aquamarines