AQUAMARINE

REFRACTIVE INDEX    1.567  -  1.590
HARDNESS       7.5 - 8
SPECIFIC GRAVITY     2.66  -  2.80

 MINERAL  CLASS         Beryl

  

 Aquamarine gemstone is a member of the beryl family, the same family as Emerald.  Aqua is known for its blue or blue green coloring, which accounts for its name.

 

Like seawater, Aquamarine comes in blue and green-blue color. The more saturated the color, the higher the value, though almost all aquamarine has a light tone.

Aquamarines of the best quality are clear, transparent gems. Some gems can carry inclusions of long, hollow rods, a trademark of the beryl family. Aligned traces of foreign minerals, a rare feature, cause a cat's eye effect or star effect (asterism) with six rays in a vivid sheen. Cat's eye aquamarine and star aquamarine usually command premium prices.

 

 

The leading producer of aquamarine is Brazil, with many mines spreading throughout the country. Other deposits found in Australia, Myanmar (Burma), China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, as well as in several U.S. locations.