Bahia Emerald

2008-12-31T01:48:10Z

72.13.143.12:

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The "Bahia Emerald" — one of the largest ever found — is an 850 pound (1,930,000 carat) Brazilian stone reported stolen in September 2008 from a secured vault in [[South El Monte, California|South El Monte]] in Los Angeles County, California, according to someone claiming to own the giant gemstone. While the stone had been appraised at $370 million the true value is unclear. At one point, the emerald was listed for sale on eBay for a "Buy It Now" price of $75 million.

On July 9, 2001, a miner in the Carnaiba emerald mine came upon the head of an unusually large crystal protruding from black rock. Within minutes, everyone gathered around to watch one of the veteran miners excavate the rock around the crystal using a small pick and hammer. Several hours later, they all stood around the most awesome concentration of Emerald crystals that anyone had ever seen.

Knowing that word of such a treasure could cause unwanted attention, the mine supervisor quickly assembled a team of his most trusted miners with the purpose of moving the rock containing the crystals to a safe place. It took eight men over five hours to move the 850-pound rock to the nearest clear trail. There they assembled a team of mules for a journey that would take them over 700 miles through unforgiving jungle and last almost 11 months.

Five months into their journey, their mules were attacked by a pair of black panthers. Having no other choice, the eight men built a stretcher from wood and vines and carried the rock by hand the rest of the way.

When the miners finally arrived in [[São Paulo]] on April 20, 2002, they brought the rock to the Bank of Brazil. A world renowned gemologist was brought in to appraise the find, and when he was finished, announced that it was indeed one of a kind. Fearing that the rock could fall into the wrong hands, it was immediately shipped to the United States under heavy guard so that it could be further examined by scientists and collectors.

==References==
{{wikinews|850-pound emerald at center of dispute}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/27/giant.emerald/index.html 850-pound emerald at center of dispute]
*[http://fortressaustralia.blogspot.com/2007/09/gem-of-story.html A Gem of a Story]

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Archive:Aquamarine

2006-09-03T23:01:21Z

72.13.239.239:

{{otheruses1|the mineral}}
[[Image:Aquamarin cut.jpg|Aquamarine|thumb|250px]]
'''Aquamarine''' (Lat. ''aqua marina'', "water of the sea") is a [[gemstone]]-quality transparent variety of [[beryl]], having a delicate blue or blue-green color, suggestive of the tint of [[seawater]]. It's closely related to the gem [[emerald]]. Colors vary and yellow beryl, called ''heliodor''; rose pink beryl, ''morganite''; and white beryl, ''goshenite'' are known.

Aquamarine is a beryl with a [[Hexagonal (crystal system)|hexagonal]] crystal structure and a chemical formula of Be3Al2Si6O18, a [[beryllium]] [[aluminium]] [[Silicate minerals|silicate mineral]]. It has a [[specific gravity]] of 2.68 to 2.74 and a [[Mohs hardness]] of from 7.5 to 8. Aquamarine typically is on the low end of the specific gravity range, normally at less than 2.7. The pink variety exhibits a high specific gravity of around 2.8. [[Refractive index|Refractive indices]] range around 1.57 to 1.58.

It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from [[Russia]]. The gem-gravel [[Placer mining|placer]] deposits of [[Sri Lanka]] contain aquamarine. Clear yellow beryl, such as occurs in [[Brazil]], is sometimes called aquamarine chrysolite. When [[corundum]] presents the bluish tint of typical aquamarine, it is often termed Oriental aquamarine.

In the [[United States]], aquamarines can be found at the summit of [[Mount Antero|Mt. Antero]] in the [[Sawatch Range]] in central [[Colorado]]. In [[Brazil]], there are mines in the states of [[Minas Gerais]], [[Espírito Santo]] and [[Bahia]]. Zambia also produces nice aquamarine as well as Madagascar, Malawi,Tanzania and Kenya. Much of today's aquamarine is heated to give it a better color blue.

The biggest aquamarine ever mined was found at the city of Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. It weighed over 110 kg, and its dimensions were 48.5 cm long and 42 cm in diameter.

Aquamarine is the [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|official state gem]] of Colorado.

==Culture and historical/mythical usage==
*Aquamarine is the [[birthstone]] associated with March. It is also the gemstone for the 19th Anniversary.
*People in the [[Middle Ages]] thought that aquamarine could magically overcome the effects of [[poison]].
*Ancient sailors traveled with aquamarine crystals, believing that it would insure a safe passage, and often slept with the stones under their pillow to insure sound sleep. They believed the siren’s (mermaid) fish-like lower body was made of aquamarine.

== See also ==
* [[List of minerals]]

== References ==
* Weinstein, Michael, 1958, ''The World of Jewel Stones'' Sheriden House, New York, pp 104-107
* Diamond Bug. [http://diamondbug.blogspot.com/2006/03/flawless-aquamarine-march-birthstone.html "Flawless Aquamarine: March Birthstone"]. Retrieved March 16, 2006.
* Aquamarine Scientific Information [http://gemstones.mysolitaire.com/aquamarine.htm "Aquamarine scientific Information"]

[[Category:Silicate minerals]]
[[Category:Gemstones]]

[[bg:Аквамарин]]
[[da:Akvamarin]]
[[de:Aquamarin]]
[[et:Akvamariin]]
[[fr:Aigue-marine]]
[[he:אקוומרין]]
[[lt:Akvamarinas]]
[[nl:Aquamarijn]]
[[ja:アクアマリン]]
[[no:Akvamarin]]
[[pl:Akwamaryn]]
[[pt:Água-marinha]]
[[ru:Аквамарин]]
[[sl:Akvamarin (kamen)]]
[[vi:Berin]]
[[sv:Akvamarin]]
[[tr:Akuamarin]]
[[uk:Аквамарин]]

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Bahia Emerald

Archive:Aquamarine