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Aquamarine
Facts, Information and Description
The gemstone
Aquamarine is the modern March birthstone as adopted by the American
National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the birth stone
for the Zodiac sign of Scorpio. See the birthstone table for
additional references to this stone. Aquamarine is suggested as a gem
to give on the 16th and 19th wedding anniversaries.
Aquamarine is
a member of the beryl family and ranges in color from an almost
colorless pale blue to blue-green or teal. The most prized color is a
deep-blue aqua color. It is 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale of hardness and
gets its name from Latin words meaning water and sea.
The most
valuable aquamarines come from Brazil, but it is also mined in Kenya
and Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan,
Afghanistan and Russia. . Aquamarines on the market today are usually
faceted, but when cut as a cabochon, they may display a cat's eye
effect known as asterism.
Some gemstones
are heated to high temperatures to enhance the color and/or clarity
of a stone. Aquamarines are often heat treated to change a blue-green
or teal colored stone to a pure blue. This results in a permanent
color change.
Crystal
system: hexagonal
Fracture: Conchoidal
Luster:
Vitreous to resinous
Folklore,
Legend, Healing Properties:
Since early
times, aquamarine has been believed to endow the wearer with
foresight, courage, and happiness. It is said to increase
intelligence and make one youthful. As a healing stone, it is said to
be effective as a treatment for anxiety and in the Middle Ages it was
thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons.
A legend says
that sailors wore aquamarine gemstones to keep them safe and prevent seasickness.
Aquamarine
Gemstone Jewelry |
