What color is natural aquamarine?

Aquamarine is a type of the mineral beryl. The stone received its characteristic name for its color: from the Latin “aqua marina” – sea water, which is a correct description of the color of the mineral. A characteristic of natural aquamarine is its color: bluish-green, greenish-blue, light blue, sky blue to dark blue (very rare). It usually has a very light color, which is clearly visible only in large specimens. Rare blue colored beryls are known as “maxix” or “machiche”. They were first found in 1917 in Brazil at the Maxix mine. Their color is unstable and tends to fade quickly in light. Intensely colored specimens are also called by the trade term “Santa Maria”. In their properties, these stones are similar to machiche, but usually their color is still a little lighter. If the color is almost green, with only a barely noticeable blue tint, then such a specimen would be more correctly considered simply beryl. We talk in more detail about coloring in the Buyer’s Guide. In nature, this natural stone is found in the form of elongated prismatic crystals of various sizes. Aquamarine is not characterized by the content of noticeable inclusions. However, sometimes they may contain characteristic gas-liquid inclusions, channels and cracks. Jewelry aquamarines are often obtained by heat treating green and yellowish-green beryls. The advantageous properties of the stone: high hardness and imperfect cleavage in one direction – allow it to be used in various types of jewelry without fear for its wear resistance. And such a property as dichroism must be taken into account when cutting it, arranging the optical axes of the stone in such a way that the rich color comes out on its surface. Deposits are known on all continents. The largest crystals are found in Brazil and Pakistan. Other deposits are located in India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, the USA and other countries. Stone care Aquamarine is a fairly hard stone, but when storing jewelry with it, it is recommended to wrap the items in a soft cloth. The mineral is sensitive to the sun, so that it does not discolor, you should not sunbathe in jewelry inlaid with aquamarine, and when storing items for a long time, put them in a closed case. Aquamarine requires regular care, but you should clean the stone as it becomes dirty and do not use excessive force. The best way to clean is with a soft-bristle toothbrush and warm soapy water. To wash aquamarine, do not use aggressive chemical compounds, hard brushes or abrasive powders; the stone can be wiped with a damp alcohol wipe. Bracelets and rings with gems should be removed when doing household chores.

Place of Birth

Brazil is one of the most important suppliers of blue and blue stones; the largest aquamarine crystals are mined from Brazilian deposits. Many gem quality crystals are also found in India and Pakistan. In recent years, Madagascar and Mozambique have been pleased with finds of good color. In Russia, the stone is mined in Transbaikalia (Sherlovaya Gora), but the quality of the crystals from there can be classified as average. Good quality aquamarine crystals are also found in other countries, such as Nigeria.

CHARACTERISTICS

Mineral type: beryl, aquamarine variety Chemical formula: Be 3 Al 2 Si 6 O 18 Syngony: hexagonal Hardness: 7,5-8 Optical character: anisotropic Cleavage: very imperfect in one direction Density: 2,72 g/cm 3 Luster: glass Refractive index: 1,577-1,583 Birefringence: 0,005-0,009 Dispersion: 0,014 Color: blue, greenish blue

INTERESTING FACTS

• Among the favorite jewelry of Queen Elizabeth II of England is a beautiful set of products with aquamarines: a tiara, necklace, bracelet and earrings. It was a gift to the Queen of England from the President of Brazil.
• The largest cut quality blue beryl crystal was mined in Brazil and weighed 110 kg.
• The largest cut specimen in the world is called “Don Pedro” and weighs 10363 carats. It was cut by German cutter Bernd Munsteiner in 1993.
• The high hardness (7,5-8 on the Mohs scale) of the natural mineral makes it suitable for daily wear. But aquamarine is easily scratched, which requires careful handling and care.
• In the 13th century, the first spectacle lenses were created from aquamarine plates.
• A series of large-scale naval victories for England at the beginning of the 920th century secured her status as the “mistress of the sea.” That is why the royal crown is decorated with an amazing aquamarine weighing XNUMX carats.

History

Aquamarines have been known as a jewelry stone since ancient times. The beads were found during excavations in Egypt. They were made around 3000 BC. Beryl is one of the gems of the confidant of the high priest Aaron. Pope Julius II had a tiara, which was a luxurious stone in silver. The daughter of Charles the Third wore silver and aquamarine jewelry for her wedding, which has its own name – “Gisella’s Dress.”

The Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus owned an aquamarine seal on which he is depicted as Poseidon riding a chariot. The Crown of the Queen of Great Britain is also decorated with a stone weighing 920 carats.

Ennobling

The blue color can be obtained by heat treating yellowish-green beryl. Using heat treatment it is also possible to enhance the richness of aquamarines. This type of refining is used quite often. In some cases, heat treatment followed by irradiation of beryl is used to change the external properties. The rich color characteristic of irradiated samples is not always stable; the stone can fade quite quickly in the light. Unrefined aquamarines with good saturated color are very rare.

The healing properties of the stone

The ancient Romans believed that the sea green mineral had powerful healing properties and could cure many ailments. The positive effect of the stone was noted in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver – jewelry with the mineral was recommended to be worn closer to the place where pain was felt.

The healing qualities of aquamarine are manifested in the following:

• Relieving stress and calming nerves.
• Help in the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis.
• Reduction of inflammatory processes in the throat, reduction of temperature during colds.
• Elimination of itching, relief of allergic reactions.
• Improved visual acuity.
• Enhance immunity.
• Help in the treatment of respiratory diseases.
• Anesthetic effect.
• Beneficial effect on the organs of the excretory system.
• Treatment of seasickness.
• Improvement in varicose veins (the stone is used to massage problem areas).

Lithotherapists recommend wearing a natural gem both during and after illness to speed up the body’s recovery from illness.

How to distinguish from fakes

Since aquamarine stone is very popular, imitations and fakes are also common. It is imitated with glasses (so-called pastes), glass ceramics, synthetic materials, for example, synthetic spinel, YAG, GGG.

In order to distinguish aquamarine from imitations and fakes, you need knowledge of gemology and at least a minimum set of gemological equipment: a magnifying glass, a refractometer, a polariscope. Glass and glass ceramics are revealed by the presence of bubbles in the stone when viewed with a 10x magnifying glass. The presence of numerous micro-cracks on the edges of the faces indicates the high fragility characteristic of glass.

You can also check the hardness. Aquamarine will not be scratched by a steel blade, but scratches will remain on the glass. Also, some sources recommend examining the chips. But we do not recommend this method, since the polishing and integrity of the stone will be compromised. Remember that for gemological examination, primarily non-destructive methods of analysis are used.

In some cases, you can distinguish natural aquamarine from a fake or imitation using a refractometer, measuring the refractive index of the polished face.

Aquamarine can be similar to other stones of blue and dark blue colors: light blue zircon, topaz in shades Sky Blue and Swiss Blue, rarely – light tourmaline, blue sapphire, diamond.

These stones can be visually distinguished from aquamarine only with the observation of an experienced gemologist. Zircon and diamond are distinguished by high dispersion. Topaz has a cooler blue hue. But you can confidently say that this is a representative of a certain mineral species, topaz or aquamarine, only after a thorough laboratory examination of the sample. The fact is that the color of a particular gemstone is also associated with impurity elements, the content of which can vary significantly in different samples.

Also, as a diagnostic feature, some sources indicate the pleochroism characteristic of aquamarine, but we do not consider this method reliable, since pleochroism is characteristic of many precious stones, and in light aquamarine it can be extremely weakly expressed. Unlike, for example, tanzanite, in which pleochroism is observed with the naked eye, to observe the colors of pleochroism in aquamarine you will need a gemological device – a dichroscope.

Some sources mention that aquamarines are characterized by a very light color and the presence of characteristic inclusions, but this does not apply to cut aquamarines of top gem quality. For example, for our collection we select aquamarines that meet certain criteria. Therefore, high purity and highly readable blue color in cut aquamarine from Gemlovers is accepted by default. Probably, among all the precious and semi-precious stones, the phrase “stone of pure water” is most applicable to aquamarine.

According to the GIA purity grading system, aquamarines are classified as Type I – usually clear. For our catalog we select mainly visually clean (eye clean, VVS according to the GIA marking), clean under a magnifying glass (loupe clean).

In any case, if you have any doubts about the naturalness, we recommend contacting a reputable laboratory where you can order a certificate or expert opinion. Please note that the laboratory will most likely not determine whether the stone has been refined or not, but will determine its natural origin and indicate the main characteristics of the aquamarine.

AQUAMARINE is a jewelry stone, one of the varieties of beryl. Aquamarine stone has a crystalline structure and is found in nature in two forms. This is a regular hexagonal prism or an oblong cylindrical crystal. The basis of the mineral is silicon, more than 60% of it, as well as beryllium and aluminum in almost equal proportions. The mineral also contains impurities of elements such as potassium, iron, sodium, and in rare cases chromium is also found. The color of the stone is given by Fe2 (ferrous iron) ions. There are gems from pale blue to deep blue colors. The transparency of the stone depends on the presence of impurities and inclusions. The presence of gas bubbles and inclusions of other minerals create an iridescent “cat’s eye” effect. Despite its high hardness (over 7,5 on the Mohs scale), the stone requires careful handling.

In their uncut form, gems are just inconspicuous stones; outwardly, natural aquamarine may not be noticeable. However, once cut and polished, these blue gems become one of the most expensive gemstones in the world, sparkling like diamonds.

The most valuable are absolutely transparent specimens of intense blue color over 10 carats in size. To achieve this effect, most stones after cutting are subjected to calcination (up to 400-500 °C) or irradiation, and as a result of the reduction of ferric iron, a color change occurs – for example, from greenish-blue to blue. Aquamarine tends to fade greatly when exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.

Aquamarine is one of the most common minerals. Its deposits are found on all continents. One of the largest is located in Brazil. It was there that the largest stone was found in 1910 (weight 110,2 kg, 48,2×41 cm). 220 thousand carats of cutting material were obtained from it. Aquamarines are also mined in Russia. For example, blue minerals can be found in the Urals and Transbaikalia, and emerald ones can be found in the Ilmen Mountains region. A large aquamarine weighing 82 kg was found in 1796. in Eastern Transbaikalia. Beautiful bluish-green ones, 19 and 20 cm long, were discovered in 1843 in the Ilmen Mountains. Aquamarines 61 cm long and 15 cm wide were found in Altai.

Aquamarines are usually cut with step or wedge cuts in a rectangular or oval shape, but the emerald cut is most often used. Aquamarine can be confused with other stones of similar color: blue topaz, kyanite, starlite, tourmaline, euclase.

STONE OF ANCIENT KINGS

Aquamarines were used to decorate royal crowns, regalia of the Pope, and were used as lenses for glasses (the first lenses date back to 1300). Some aquamarine crystals reach record sizes. Thus, the scepter of the Polish King Stanislaus, 30 cm long, was carved from a single stone, which was kept in the Kremlin Armory; under Soviet rule, it was issued to Poland in 1921, under the Treaty of Riga. However, compared to this, a whole aquamarine bust of Napoleon III, weighing 6 kg, is much more impressive. In the museum of the St. Petersburg Mining Institute there is an aquamarine crystal 125 cm long. One of the most famous products with aquamarine is the Easter egg made by Carl Faberge. It was made in 1891 by order of Emperor Alexander III. Hidden inside the egg was a model of the frigate “Memory of Azov,” made of gold and platinum. The ship was located on a plate that represented water. The sea was made using aquamarines. The crown of the English kings contains a processed Indian aquamarine weighing a little less than 200 g. The Paris National Museum houses intaglio (jewelry with in-depth relief) dating from the XNUMXnd-XNUMXrd centuries. A portrait of Julia Domna, the wife of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, is carved into the aquamarine. Another one of the most amazing jewelry with a blue-green gem is the set of jewelry of Princess Elizabeth Feodorovna. This parure is usually called Hessian, because. The first owner of the jewelry ensemble was the princess’s elder sister, Alexandra Feodorovna, née Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Aquamarine has been known since ancient times. Blue beryl was known to the ancient Sumerians, who lived in Mesopotamia 4 thousand years ago. According to the beliefs of the Sumerian people, beautiful sea-green crystals gave their owners longevity, prolonged youth and brought happiness.

Aquamarine retains the name given to it by Pliny the Elder, who, describing beryls, noted that the most valuable of them are beryls, whose color resembles the pure green of sea waters (from the Latin aqua – water, mare – mope). It is curious that it was he who at one time discovered the similarities between beryls, emeralds and aquamarine. As science later turns out, all these stones belong to the same group of minerals. The official name was introduced into circulation by the gem expert Boethius de Booth at the beginning of the 17th century.

Aquamarine is not typical for jewelry from antiquity and the Middle Ages. With a relatively high level of metalworking, the skills of cutting precious and semi-precious stones were not developed, which did not allow the potential of transparent minerals to be revealed. There are individual examples of ancient Greek jewelry using aquamarines in cabochon processing and ancient Roman carved gems. The Romans revered this mineral as a talisman for sea voyages. In addition, aquamarine symbolized love and fidelity. According to one myth, Poseidon, in love with a nymph, gave her an aquamarine in silver. This motif survived even into the Middle Ages, when jewelry with blue beryl was endowed with the ability to return cooled feelings. In the Middle Ages, precious stones also had the simplest cabochon cut; bright colors were valued primarily in minerals; blue sapphires, rubies and red garnets were especially valuable and popular.

In the old days, everyone who went out to sea was required to have an aquamarine crystal with them. It was believed that the stone would protect the ship from storms and storms, and would give sailors strength to reach the final destination of the journey. Until the end of the 19th century, every captain, both royal and pirate ships, always had with him a ring decorated with aquamarine. Sailors of that time believed that this stone would attract the protection of Neptune, protect against storms and storms, and also bring a good catch. On jewelry of those times one could often see images of Neptune or Triton.

In the 18th century, the Rococo style appeared with a love of light pastel colors, primarily blue and pink; aquamarine, together with multi-colored topazes, begins to come into fashion. Around the same time, progress was made in cutting, and diamonds appeared for the first time in European jewelry.

The greatest popularity of aquamarine in jewelry occurred in the first half of the 20th century and the Art Deco style. Icy transparency and coldness allowed aquamarine to become one of the favorite materials of jewelers of the Art Deco era, along with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and black onyx. Aquamarine looked good in the popular rectangular cut (baguette) of those years; colorless diamonds and black onyx emphasized its icy color and laconic severity. Aquamarine is actively used in jewelry today.

In Russia, aquamarine was mined in the Urals back in 1699.

In the Urals, several villages and stations are named Murzinka. But one has become famous throughout the world – the one that stands on the banks of the Neiva in the Alapaevsky district of the Sverdlovsk region. In mineralogical terms, the concept “Murzinka” means an entire area where various Ural gems are found, stretching for 30–35 kilometers from north to south. The village of Murzinka was founded at the end of the 1669th century as a fort, the Cossack garrison of which guarded the Verkhotursky tract. It is unknown who and when found the first gem here, but already in 164, the son of local ore miner Tumashev, Dmitry, brought to the capital the precious stones he found in the vicinity of Murzinka. The chronicles report about this event: “The copper ore smelter Dmitry Tumashev beat our Great Sovereign with his brow, and said: he went to Siberia to look for ores and found colored stones, in the mountains there were white crystals, cherry fetis and green yugas, and yellow tumpas. ” . Tumashev Jr., by royal favor, was awarded XNUMX rubles and a half and sent to Siberia with permission to look for stones and open mining factories on the Stone Belt.

“Murzinka” does not mean only a populated area (although that too), but primarily as a collective concept, covering the entire region of the Middle Urals, stretching along the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains for almost 75 kilometers. In former times, these places were called the “gem belt”. It included Vatikha with its amethyst and garnet mines, Alabashka with topaz, smoky quartz and beryl, Mokrusha with aquamarine, black morion and lepidolite, and even mica deposits near Nizhny Tagil.

Mokrusha is one of the most famous mines of Murzinka, which has been serving as a source of excellent collection material for several centuries. Topaz, aquamarine, and beryl are used in jewelry.

The Alabashsko-Murzinsky group of deposits unites old aquamarine mines – “Tysyachnitsa”, “Soap”, “Startsevskaya”, “Hungry Log”, “Dvuhsottennye Yamy”, “Krivorechenskaya” and topaz mines – “Krutorechenskaya”, “Tyazhelovesnitsa”, “Mezhdudorozhitsa” , “The Breech”, “Mokrusha”. All of them are located near the villages of Nizhnyaya Alabashka and Murzinka.

The peak of aquamarine production occurred at the end of the 30th century, when at the Adui mines the miner Semenin produced over 48 pounds of first-class aquamarine worth more than XNUMX thousand rubles in a year. Semenin immediately organized an artel – “gem kuppanstvo”, which existed for about ten years.

Today, most of the deposits are considered exhausted, but even their dumps still attract stone lovers.

Aquamarines were also found in the Ilmen Mountains – this is the only place in the world where more than 260 minerals were discovered: topaz, ilmenite, aquamarine, phenacite, zircon, sapphire, quartz, tourmaline, amazonite, etc. It is not for nothing that the Ilmen Nature Reserve is located here today to protect mineralogical riches Ural.

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The material was prepared by Anna Larionova.