Aquamarine is the blue to green-blue gemstone variety of beryl. It is the birthstone for March. The name aquamarine comes from two Latin words aqua marinus meaning “water of the sea”. The color comes from trace amounts of iron in the stone. Aquamarine is typically greenish blue in nature, so it is heat treated to remove the yellow component, and to produce a true-blue color. Brazil is the largest producer of aquamarine, but fine quality stones can be found around the world.
General Information
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical Properties
- Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Aquamarine
Species
Beryl
Transparency
Transparent - Translucent
Dispersion
Strength: Weak Fire Value: 0.014
Refractive Index
1.577-1.583
Tolerance:(+0.017/-0.017)
Birefringence
0.005-0.009
Optic Character
Uniaxial
Optic Sign
Negative
Polariscope Reaction
Doubly Refractive (DR)
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert
LWUV: Inert
CCF Reaction
green or blue-green
Pleochroism
Dichroic, weak to moderate blue to slightly darker blue or greenish blue
Hardness
7.5
Streak
White
Specific Gravity
2.670-2.900 Range:0.18/-0.05 Typical:2.720
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Aquamarine is a type I clarity stone. Stones are typically clean but sometimes contain "fingerprints" and liquid inclusions, 2-phase or 3-phase inclusions, hollow or liquid filled parallel tubes, spiky cavities and tubes parallel to the length of the crystal that look like rain, mica flakes. Crystal inclusions include apatite, almandite and spessartite garnet, quartz and tourmaline. Star aquamarine will have a weak 6 or 4 rayed star and sometimes both.
Luster
Vitreous
Stability
Good
Fracture
Conchoidal
Cleavage
Poor, in one direction
Chemical Name
beryllium aluminum silicate
Chemical Formula
Be3Al2(SiO3)6
Crystal System
Hexagonal
Chemistry Classification
Silicate
Aquamarine Colors
-
Blue
-
Blue
-
Blue
Aquamarine Spectra
AQUAMARINE (Ɛ ray)
Color due to iron. Most aquamarines are too pale with very little color saturation to provide absorption lines which are easily seen. The blue extraordinary should be observed by a polarizing filter in order to detect the iron band at 427nm. with sufficient transmission on the short-wave side to make it obvious. A rather diffuse indication may also be seen of the other iron band centered at 465nm.
We acknowledge the significant scientific contributions of John S Harris, FGA to the study of gemstone spectra and with deep appreciation to him, acknowledges the use of his images and related notes about gemstones and their spectra in the educational materials on this website.
Countries of Origin
Tanzania, United Republic Of; Afghanistan; Viet Nam; Sri Lanka; United States of America; Belize; Madagascar; Zambia; Kenya; Bolivia (Plurinational State of); India; Mozambique; Pakistan; Unknown; China; Namibia; Brazil; Nigeria; Ethiopia; Nepal
History
Dive into the cool, inviting color of the wonderfully sea-blue aquamarine. Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family and a "sibling" stone to emerald and morganite. How can stones from the same family appear so very different? A gemstone's natural color typically comes from trace elements. In the case of aquamarine, its color comes from iron. Color is also impacted by gem treatments. Aquamarine is often heated to bring out the most desirable shades. Aquamarine is pleochroic, which means it shows different colors in different crystal directions. Heat-treatment helps eliminate pleochroism in aquamarine. Savvy lapidaries cut aquamarine to minimize the effects of any pleochroism and to optimize its fall-in-love-with-me-blue hues. Aquamarine is typically found in very large crystals, which makes it a tempting stone for collectors. Measuring 7.5 - 8 on the scale of gemstone hardness, aquamarine is very wearable, which makes it ideal for jewelry lovers.
Care
Normal care
More About Aquamarine
The contemporary birthstone for the month of March, folklore tells us that ancient cultures believed aquamarine brought courage, luck, and calm to its wearer. It is also thought, by some, to enhance the happiness of marriage.
Creation Classification
Lab Created
Hydrothermally grown lab created gems crystallize slowly out of a solution (a mix of water and dissolved elements) that has been exposed to heat and pressure similar to the conditions on Earth under which the natural gem mineral grows. Lab created gems have the same chemical, optical, and physical properties of their natural counterparts, but are a more cost-effective alternative to a natural gem.
Lab Created Aquamarine
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Lab Created
CCF Reaction
green
Pleochroism
Weak to moderate
Specific Gravity
2.67
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Lab Created aquamarine is typically eye clean. Due to its synthetic nature chevron, zig-zag or undulating growth zoning is apparent. Liquid and 2-phase inclusions can sometimes be scene along with nail head spicules., small specks black or remnants of seed plates.
Optical Phenomena
Cat's-Eye Aquamarine
Cat's-Eye Aquamarine Aquamarine
- Classification
Common Name
Cat's-Eye Aquamarine
