AQUAMARINE - Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family, as is emerald. The legends behind aquamarine all have to do with the sea and water. The Aquamarine in a beautiful, cool blue color and sometimes also has a hint of green. Its name is derived from the latin words "Aqua" (water) and "Marine" (sea) and means "seawater".
CHEMISTRY: Be3Al2Si6)O18 + Fe
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY: Hexagonal
REFRACTIVE INDEX: 1.567 - 1.590
HARDNESS: 7.5 - 8
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 2.66 - 2.80
CLEAVAGE: Indistinct
HEAT SENSITIVE: No
WEARABILITY: Excellent
ENHANCEMENTS: May be heat treated to remove green tint. Very common, undetectable.
Aquamarine is the blue, or perhaps more correctly, blue-green or aqua variety of the mineral beryl. Other gemstone color varieties that belong to beryl include emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Other colors of beryl are simply referred to by their color, such as red beryl.
Aquamarine is colored by trace amounts of iron that find their way into the crystal structure. Most gem aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green colors from less desirable yellow or pale stones. The leading producer of aquamarines is the country of Brazil, which has many mines. Pakistan, as well as many U.S. localities, produce wonderful specimens as well.
Aquamarine is the birth stone for March. It is a popular gem that wears well. Another interesting feature of this gem are its inclusions. Beryls, and aquamarine in particular, are known for having long, hollow tubes. This is a distinctive feature and will identify a gem as a member of the beryl family. If there are enough of these hollow tubes, cat’s eyes or stars can be produced with proper cutting. A cat’s eye aquamarine is a thing of beauty and is highly prized by collectors. Prices will be very close to that of a clean, faceted gem with the same coloring. Star aquamarine is even more rare than a cat’s eye and can demand a premium price.
This beautiful gem receives its coloring from trace amount of iron. The color can be very light to moderately dark. You will rarely see an aqua that is darker than a Swiss blue topaz and when you do the color is usually enhanced by the way they are cut.
There is a very dark blue aqua that came on the market about three decades ago, called the Maxixe aquamarine. (That is pronounced ma-she'-she.) This is an irradiated product and the color isn’t stable. These have mostly disappeared from the market, but if you are ever offered a very deep blue aquamarine, be cautious. You can distinguish the Maxixe from a natural aquamarine by its pleochroism and its spectrum. In natural aquamarine there is distinct blue and colorless dichroism. The Maxixe aqua has no pleochroism and is blue in every direction. With a spectroscope you will see a narrow line at 6950, a strong line at 6540 and weak lines at 6280, 6150, 5500 and 5810. This is considerably different than natural aqua’s spectrum with a broad band at 4270 and a diffuse band at 4560.
Most aquamarines come out of the ground with a greenish tint. This will disappear, leaving a pure blue color by heating to 375 degrees Centigrade. Heating aqua to remove its green tinting is very common and used to be done as a matter of routine. Now we have a more sophisticated public and many of them are starting to appreciate the slightly green gems, knowing that they haven’t been heat treated. This process is impossible to distinguish, so pure blue aquamarines are described as “probably heat treated.”
Just as one might suppose from its name, this stone has long been associated with the sea and sailors. It is a protective stone for sailors and will prevent them from drowning. It was also once associated with mermaids but now seems to be more associated with magical genies who will give its wearer whatever his or her heart desires. An interesting belief from the Middle Ages is that the aquamarine protects one from the devil. The aquamarine is also supposed to foster calm and peace and banish fears and phobias. It is a stone of happiness and eternal youth.
Astrological Signs of Gemini, Pisces and Aries.
Metaphysical Properties:
- The aquamarine is receptive and promotes psychism, peace, courage, and is the sea-goddesses of Ancient Egypt's stone.
- Excellent for cleansing and purifying.
- Aquamarine helps inspires spiritual and self expression, self-understanding, banishes fears, excellent for meditation.
- Quickens intellect, increases self-knowledge. It is also reputed to promote clear and logical thinking and for that reason it is often carried as a 'good luck' charm by those who are taking examinations or being interviewed for a job. Brings inspiration and new ideas. Enhances clarity of mind, aids creative self-expression.
- A stone of courage, enhances intellectual reasoning processes. Helps banish fears and phobias. Calms nerves, preserves innocence.
- Physical and emotional and mental balancer. Excellent for meditation, inspiration, peace, calmness, love.
- Chakras: Heart, Throat, Solar Plexus.
Healing Uses:
- Aquamarine can be used in rituals to ensure good health.
- Aquamarine is a protective amulet and can be worn to relieve pain and ensure good health. Every ancient culture left us with this stone embedded in its jewelry.
- Aquamarine is supposed to be most useful when dealing with the problems of the eyes, liver, throat, stomach, nerves, and glands.
- Relieves toothache, improves sight.
- Strengthens kidneys, spleen, thyroid. Purifies body, reduces fluid retention.
