Aquamarine - A valuable blue gemstone
Introduction
Aquamarine as the name suggests is a stone that has the beautiful bluish green color of the sea. It has been a popular gemstone for several centuries, and was always associated with the sea. In ancient times, sailors used to carry aquamarine on their ships in the belief that they would protect them on their journeys. In medieval times the stone was associated with purity and honesty in marriage and many couples gave each other aquamarine jewelry for this purpose. Aquamarine contains beryl in its chemical composition, and this is one of the most abundant minerals on the planet; the stone, however, contains one of the rarest elements too; Beryllium.
The colors of Aquamarine Gemstones
Gemstones containing Beryl come in many colors; the blue-green stone is called aquamarine; the yellow and yellow-orange variety is called Heliodor; the mineral also comes in pink in which case it is called Morganite; there is a white variety which is called Goshenite. Another form of beryl, which is extremely rare has a deep red color, and it is called Bixbate.
The most valued color of aquamarine is blue, and these have different names based on the intensity of the blue color. The rarest form of aquamarine, is the Santa Maria aquamarine, which were mined in the Santa Maria de Itabira deposit in Brazil. This deposit has virtually been depleted and new stones can only be found in small parts of this area. Santa Maria colors are intensely and deeply blue, and can also be found in Mozambique and Zambia; when found in Africa, they are called Santa Maria Africana or Santa Maria Afrique. Other colors such as the Espirito Santo, and Tatu, were mined in the Espirito Santo State of Brazil, and the Tatu mine found in the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil too. These colors are medium toned and they are very rare too.
The chemical structure of aquamarine
Beryl has a structure that is elongated flattened or prismatic in nature and this lies in the fact that the mineral exclusively grows in a hexagonal structure. The overall beauty of the stone is due to its glassy look, and this is because it has a high value of transparency and translucence. The stone is relatively hard, with a value of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale which makes it perfect for making ornamental jewelry. Despite its apparent hardness, the hexagonal structure makes it prone to breaking and fracturing and it should therefore be handled, worn, and stored carefully. There have been aquamarine stones that have weighed as much as 200 hundred pounds but the largest proportion of mined aquamarine is usually a few carats in weight.
A brief history of Aquamarine
Aquamarine is found in many parts of the world and it is relatively popular when compared to other gemstones. Since it is made from beryl one of the most abundant minerals in the world it is very common. Despite this common occurrence of beryl aquamarine has an element which is very rare, and this is beryllium. Throughout the globe, the bluish-green hue of aquamarine is well known although the primary minerals, beryl is very common.
Since the beginnings of written history aquamarine features prominently in many stories but the most are those that involve sailors. They believed that the strong resemblance of the stone, to the colors of the sea meant that it had powers which would protect the sailors as the journeyed through the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas, which were very perilous, and also other stormy seas. The fact that aquamarine was common led to the deriving of many uses for it. Most of the uses were based on myth and fantasy; sailors used to keep it under their heads in the belief that they would have a lovely sleep through the night. The sailors also believes that mermaids had tails which were made of aquamarine. Aquamarine was also used as a stone that could ward off poison. In medieval times, aquamarine was believed to preserve the love between a man and his wife, ensuring that none of them would stray. It was given as a gift to people who were born in the month of March. The name comes from the Latin description of Sea Water, and this was because of its sea-like color.
In some cultures, sailors believed that aquamarine was a stone that could calm the wrath of Poseidon (Greek mythology) or Neptune (Roman mythology). It was said that if sailors raised the wrath of this god, he would throw his trident at the nearest land mass, create an earthquake, and the sailors would all drown under the huge waves of a Tsunami. At other times, the normal sea storms, would be appeased by throwing the talismans made of aquamarine, into the ocean. This is the most prominent mythological use of aquamarine.
Where aquamarine is mainly found
Being the most popular gemstone in the world aquamarine is found in many parts of the world. Mainly you will find it coming from Madagascar, Africa, South America, North America, India, and Russia. The formation of aquamarine is due to the common minerals called beryl, but one special attribute about this stone is that it contains one of the rarest elements on the planet, called beryllium. The bluish color is due to ferrous iron and the greenish hue is due to ferric iron. Wherever there are geological cavities of granite pegmatites, you are bound to find aquamarine. Despite being made of beryl, there are other stones which do not bear the name, simply due to the color that they exhibit. Heliodor, which is yellow or yellowish brown is called Heliodor and it is usually found in Brazil. Morganite has a pinkish color and it is not as common as aquamarine. Aquamarine, is the official stone of Colorado since it is abundantly found there.
The Uses of Aquamarine Gemstones
The attributes of aquamarine make it perfect for ornamental jewelry use. It has a hardness rating of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale and it is therefore great for making earrings, rings, bracelets, pendants and other charms. This is a stone that you can wear daily although you have to be careful about how you handle it; its hexagonal structure makes it very susceptible to cracking and therefore should not be hit hard on any other hard surface. The fact that it has a translucent glassy look makes it very good for jewelry where light is supposed to pass easily through it.
There are no industrial uses for aquamarine despite the fact that it is relatively hard. It is usually used for mythical purposes, and jewelry made from this stone will have a story behind it; one could give it in the belief that it will bring harmony and faithfulness between lovers or it could be given to someone who spends a lot of time in the rough seas, such as a fisherman.
People who believe in astrology also buy this stone since it is said to represent Pieces and Scorpio; it is given to people who are born in the month of March, even if it is also considered, in some parts of the world, as a birthstone for the month of October.
Since this is a durable stone, it an easily be washed using dishwasher soap, and a toothbrush can be used to clean the dust that collected behind the metallic mounting.
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