Aquamarine
| Category |
| Beryl |
| Crystal Form |
| Hexagonal prisms |
| Moh's Scale Hardness |
| 7.5 –8.0 |
| Specific Gravity |
| 2.69–2.80 |
| Refractive Index |
| 1.564–1.596 |
| Sources |
| Brazil, Mozambique, India, Russia, Zambia, Pakistan, Nigeria, USA (Marine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, North Carolina, Colorado and Vermont) and Madagascar. |
Aquamarine belongs to beryl species and can be found in a range of blue shades, from pale blue to greenish-blue and deep blue in colour. Emerald and step cut are frequently used to intensify its colour.
Inclusions
Aquamarine have very few or little inclusions. The most common inclusions in aquamarine is the parallel rain growth pattern that contain crystallites and liquid and gas vesicles.
Treatments
Most aquamarine are heat treated to removed yellow and brown colouring.
Caring
Aquamarine jewellery should be kept in a dark place. If it left out in the sun for too long, it will become paler in colour.
Clean with warm, soapy water and soft bristle brush.