Aquamarine is a blue variety of Beryl mineral with chemical composition This belongs to the mineral beryl belongs to the Silicates mineral class. Aquamarine is known member of the Beryl family. This Aquamarine is commonly used as gemstone. It usually appears in blue-green color in transmitted light of polarized light microscope. This Aquamarine is only one of the several varieties of Beryl that includes emerald, the yellow beryl called heliodor, the white beryl called goshenite, and the rose pink beryl called morganite. Other varieties are termed in accordance to their color exhibited such as the Red Beryl variety. Aquamarine is known as the most common birthstone for the month of March and also a 19th Anniversary gemstone.

The gemstone Aquamarine is the official gem of the state of Colorado, USA. Aquamarine derived its name from a Latin word “aqua marinus”, which means water of the sea. This is relative to its blue-green or aqua coloring that is suggestive of the tint of seawater. It legends has to do with the sea and water. In 1910, at the city of Marambaia, Minas Gerais, the biggest Aquamarine was found and mined. It is found 42cm in diameter and 48.5cm long. It weighed over 110 kg. Aquamarine has been thought to magically overcome poison by people in the Middle Ages. Sailors of the ancient times believed they would have safe passage as they travel if they will bring Aquamarine crystals with them and slept with the stone under their pillows. They also believed that the fish-like lower body of the siren is made up of Aquamarine.

The color of Aquamarine is due to the trace amounts of iron present in the crystal structure of the mineral. They sometimes appear in pale stone color or sometimes in less desirable yellow shade and turn to its popular blue-green color after the heat treatment. They actually become paler if left out in the sun. Aquamarine commonly crystallizes in hexagonal crystal system. Usually include elongated or flattened prismatic crystals, which commonly appear vertically striated or grooved. Crystals may appear transparent and sometimes also translucent. Some aquamarine crystals may show varying degrees of etching. There are Aquamarine varieties found exhibiting shades darker than a Swiss blue topaz, where colors are enhanced by the way a gemstone is cut. They usually have long and hollow tubes. This property is very typical for all members of the Beryl family. With enough hollow tubes, Aquamarine can be cut into cat’s eyes or may be stars, which are usually considered rare, highly priced and considered a thing of beauty displaying fascinating images in transmitted light of petrographic polarizing microscope. With enough hollow tubes, Aquamarine can be cut into cat’s eyes or may be stars, which are usually considered rare, highly priced and considered a thing of beauty displaying fascinating images in transmitted light of petrographic polarizing microscope. Star Aquamarine can be demanded in premium price and is commonly considered more rare that the cat’s eye.

Gemstone Aquamarine is considered outstanding and most spectacular example of the gem world. Aquamarines commonly have moderate dispersion of 0.014, which usually have its light stone variety exhibiting splendid spectral color with its high crown angles when viewed under gemological microscopes. Index of refraction found is ranging from 1.57 – 1.60. This commonly shows that Aquamarine is quite weakly pleochroic between crossed nicols of polarizing light microscope. Birefringence found is 0.004 – 0.008. The hardness measure of Aquamarine using the Mohs scale method is usually ranging from 7.5 to 8.0. This typical hardness measure of Aquamarine makes it suitable enough to be cut for gemstone purposes. When mineral specimen is viewed between crossed nicols of polarized light microscope, it commonly shows poor cleavage in one direction. Specific gravity of Aquamarine is approximately 2.66g/cm³ to 2.80g/cm³. Aquamarine typically is on the low end of the specific gravity range, normally found at less than 2.7g/cm³. Morganite usually exhibits a higher specific gravity of around 2.8g/cm³. Natural Aquamarine exhibits distinct blue and colorless dichroism under polarized microscopes. Fracture found between crossed nicols of petrographic polarizing microscope is commonly conchoidal. When mineral specimen is rubbed on a white plate, it shows white streak.

Most Aquamarines naturally have the greenish tint when they come out the ground. They will usually change their color into a pure blue shade when heated to 375? Centigrade. This process of heat treatment for removing the greenish tint of Aquamarine is already done as a matter of routine and is already a common practice. But nowadays, the more sophisticated public already appreciates gems that appear slightly greenish. They commonly consider a heat-treated Aquamarine as the pure blue Aquamarine. The top consideration upon cutting an Aquamarine for gems is the depth of color, which is expectedly fascinatingly exhibited under a gemological microscope. The most preferred gem cut is like barions and emerald cut. To enhance Aquamarine color, the gem should be accordingly for the gem to display the highest brilliance under gemological microscope. To deepen the blue color of Aquamarine gemstone, higher crown angle gem cut is usually made. Low crown angles are commonly used to enhance higher brilliance. Aquamarines are commonly polished using the diamond method, which gives light Aquamarine their great brilliance. If the bluish tint of typical Aquamarine is presented by corundum, it is usually termed as an Oriental Aquamarine.

Aquamarine usually occurs at most locality that yields ordinary beryl. They commonly occur in pegmatites and can also be found in mica schists. Wonderful Aquamarine specimens are greatly produced in many mines of Brazil like the ones in the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Espirito Santo. A variety called Aquamarine Chrysolite that exhibits shade of clear yellow under geological polarizing microscope is also found in Brazil. Some finest gem minerals coming from Russia. They can be also found in a number of exotic places like Pakistan Zambia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria. It can be also mine in some mining areas in USA like the summit of Mt. Antero in the Sawatch Range, Central Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Carolina, nad Vermont. Aquamarine is also found contained in gem-gravel placer deposits of Sri Lanka.