Mineral Spotlight: Aquamarine

Let's talk about the birthstone for March, Aquamarine!

This mineral is a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, which makes it a popular choice in jewelry.

It belongs to the beryl family of minerals. The value of this mineral is determined by its color and clarity. The blue variety is more sought after, but did you know that naturally Aquamarine forms with a more greenish tint? It is usually heat treated to make it solely blue.

Their natural color is often referred to as “Brazilian Aqua,” as Brazil is the largest, most important producer of quality aquamarine. But, aquamarine can be found all over the world.

One mine in Brazil called the “Santa Maria” is well known for its darker and highly saturated color which is seen as more desirable.

However, this mine is nearly exhausted and some sellers use the term “Santa Maria” to refer to only the color and not the locality.

Most aquamarines form in pegmatite rocks, along with quartz, garnet, and topaz. They form in cracks and cavities within hydrothermal veins. Hot magma heats the rocks and forms a chemical chain reaction between the minerals and as the magma cools, thermal activity within the pegmatites causes crystals to from in the spaces. This process can take a long time, since aquamarine needs a longer time to crystalize compared to other minerals.

Interesting History: This gem was named for its color resembling the sea, as the Latin word for water is “aqua” and “marina” means “of the sea.”

Aquamarine jewelry has been popular since 500 BC. It has always been associated with the ocean. Many sailors and travelers wore it, because it was believed that it kept them from getting seasick and protected them from getting shipwrecked.

Did you know? In 1936, the Brazilian government gave First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a beautiful dark blue aquamarine weighing over 1,298 carats! (As a gift)

Aquamarine can be found in large sizes. The largest gem-quality aquamarine ever mined was 19 inches long and weighed 244 lbs!

Cool Fact : Aquamarine is somewhat magnetic because of the presence of iron, which gives it its blue color. This can help distinguish it from topaz.

Do you own any aquamarine? It's a fantastic addition to any mineral or crystal collection; or even in your jewelry box!