Aquamarine: A Guide to Its Properties, Colors, and Varieties

Aquamarine is a beautiful blue-green gemstone that has been prized for centuries for its clarity, color, and durability. Aquamarine is a variety of beryl, a mineral that also includes emerald, morganite, and heliodor. In this WordPress post, you will learn about the properties, colors, and varieties of aquamarine, as well as how to care for and use this gemstone.

Aquamarine Properties

Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, which means it is resistant to scratches and abrasions. It has a vitreous luster, which means it reflects light like glass. It has a hexagonal crystal system, which means it forms in six-sided prisms. It has a refractive index of 1.57 to 1.58, which means it bends light slightly when it passes through it. It has a specific gravity of 2.68 to 2.74, which means it is slightly heavier than water. It has a cleavage of 3,1, which means it can split along three planes of weakness. It has a fracture of conchoidal, which means it breaks with smooth, curved surfaces.

Aquamarine Colors

Aquamarine comes in various shades of blue, green, and blue-green, ranging from pale to intense. The color is caused by traces of iron in the beryl structure. The most valuable color is a deep blue, sometimes called Santa Maria blue, after a famous mine in Brazil. The color of aquamarine can fade or change when exposed to heat or light, so it is advisable to store it away from direct sunlight and high temperatures.

Aquamarine Varieties

Aquamarine has several varieties that are distinguished by their appearance or origin. Some of the most popular varieties are:

• Cat’s eye aquamarine: This variety exhibits a chatoyancy effect, which means it shows a band of light that moves across the surface of the stone when it is cut in a cabochon shape. This effect is caused by parallel inclusions of rutile or other minerals in the beryl.
• Star aquamarine: This variety exhibits an asterism effect, which means it shows a star-shaped pattern of light when it is cut in a cabochon shape. This effect is caused by intersecting inclusions of rutile or other minerals in the beryl.
• Moss aquamarine: This variety has a moss-like appearance, which is caused by inclusions of hornblende, actinolite, or other minerals in the beryl. The inclusions create a contrast between the blue and green colors of the stone.
• Brazilian aquamarine: This variety comes from Brazil, which is the largest producer of aquamarine in the world. Brazilian aquamarine is known for its high quality and vivid color.
• Madagascar aquamarine: This variety comes from Madagascar, which is the second largest producer of aquamarine in the world. Madagascar aquamarine is known for its clarity and luster.