Aquamarine
The name "AQUAMARINE" is derived from Latin meaning "water of the sea." It is a blue or blue-green variety of the BERYL GROUP. Other gem quality varieties of beryl are emerald and and precious beryl (bixbite, golden beryl, goshenite, heliodor and morganite). The coloring agent of aquamarine is iron. Dark blue is the most desired color for aquamarine gemstones, and clearer specimens are often heated or irradiated to attain the desired color.
In the United States, aquamarines can be found at the summit of Mt. Antero in the Sawatch Range in central Colorado. In Wyoming, aquamarine has been discovered in the Big Horn Mountains, near Powder River Pass.
Species: beryl ♦ Variety: aquamarine ♦ Crystal form: hexagonal ♦ Chemistry: Aluminium Beryllium Cyclosilicate ♦ Moh's Hardness: 7.5-8 ♦ Luster: vitreous, sub-vitreous, waxy, greasy ♦ Fracture: conchoidal ♦ Color: light blue to dark blue, blue-green ♦ Localities: Brazil, India, Russia, USA, Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan and Mozambique.