Archive:Aquamarine

File:Aquamarin cut.jpg

Aquamarine

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 sea-water. It's closely related to the gem emerald.

It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. The gem-gravels 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 Mt. Antero in the Sawatch Range in central Colorado. In Brazil, there are mines in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Bahia.

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

Aquamarines containing green color are often heat-treated to remove this less desirable color. The majority of aquamarines, unlike other gemstones, are flawless.

Culture and historical/mythical usage

Aquamarine is the birthstone associated with March. It is also the gemstone for the 19th Anniversary.

The ancient Romans believed that the aquamarine was sacred to Neptune, the god of the sea, having fallen from the jewel boxes of sirens and washed onto shore. Early sailors wore aquamarine talismans, engraved with the likeness of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea.

The association with water led to the belief that the aquamarine was particularly powerful when immersed. Water in which this gemstone had been submerged was used in ancient times to heal a variety of illnesses of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat.

See also

• List of minerals

References

• Template:1911
• Diamond Bug. "Flawless Aquamarine: March Birthstone". Retrieved March 16, 2006.