March-Aquamarine

Aquamarine
Colour Blue
Formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6
Group Oxides
Uses Jewellery (used by Romans and Greeks)
Origins In pegmatite rocks
Locations Brazil, Russia, India

Aquamarine is a silicate of aluminium and beryllium and is a variety of beryl. It is fairly hard (7.5 on the mohs scale) but easily damaged. It obtains it's uniform colour from impurities. The most valuable specimens are bright blue but sometimes heat is used to enhance it's colour.