Hannah’s Reflections ~ Aquamarine
Hi, I am Hannah.
Each week I will be researching Gemstone Families, and writing my findings here, so you can learn with me.
Today, I will be writing about Aquamarine which is in The Beryl Family.
Aquamarine is the blue to green-blue gemstone variety of beryl. The name aquamarine comes from two Latin words aqua marinus meaning “water of the sea”. The color comes from trace amounts of iron in the stone. Aquamarine is typically greenish blue in nature, so it is heat treated to remove the yellow component, and to produce a true-blue color. Brazil is the largest producer of aquamarine, but fine quality stones can be found around the world. (I like that they have called it “water of the sea” - it definitely reminds me of water, and has a soothing vibe)
There are many myths and legends about the aquamarine stone. The Romans believed that if a frog was carved on an aquamarine, it reconciled enemies and made them friends. (This is one of my favorite myths about Aquamarine, because it’s such a loving stone and I like the idea that a stone can make you become friends with enemies.)
Aquamarine has a chemical composition of Be3Al2Si6O18, also containing Fe2+. Aquamarine is chemically stable and resistant to most common chemicals and acids. It has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale.
Aquamarine is the birth stone for the month of March. It has historically been used a symbol for youth and happiness due to its color, which has also made Western culture connect it with the ocean. Ancient tales have claimed that aquamarine came from the treasure chests of mermaids, which led to sailors using this gemstone as a lucky charm to protect against shipwreck. Additionally, ancient Romans believed this stone had healing properties, due to the stone being almost invisible when submerged in water.
Thank you for reading! I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog :)