Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a beautiful blue to blue/green colored variety of the mineral Beryl. Beryl is a beryllium aluminum silicate (Be₃Al₂(Si₆O₁₈)) that occurs in pegmatite formations over a wide range of geography. The color of the mineral specimen determines the gem name. Probably the most famous of the beryl gemstones is the green variety with chrome as the coloring agent.  This is Emerald.  This story is about the blue variety — Aquamarine.

Fine aquamarine crystals have been found atop Mount Antero in Chaffee County, Colorado.  Another gem quality deposit is in San Diego County, California (Himalaya Mine).  Fantastic gemstones are mined in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Aquamarine tetrahedral crystals stack up around the C-axis in the crystal structure.  The blue color is caused by the substitution of iron atoms into the crystal structure.  Poorer colored crystals are enhanced by heating at 725 to 850 degrees F.  This change is permanent.  Overheating can result in discoloration of the crystal.  Examination of inclusions and the destruction of the crystal structure can be seen in the heated gemstones. High quality rough and cut stones exhibit a clear crystal.  Unlike emerald, aquamarine gems should be inclusion free.  As in most colored stones, color is the most important single factor in determining the quality of the gem.

With a hardness of 8, aquamarine can be used in all jewelry settings.  When well cut, this is one of the most beautiful colored stones in the world.

Posted by Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

 

 

Tags: Aquamarine, aquamarine gemstone, faceted aquamarine, faceted gemstones, hand cut cabs, hand cut gemstones, Handmade

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