Aquamarine is the name used for gem-quality specimens of the mineral beryl within a color range of greenish blue to blue. Most aquamarine have a very light color, which can be almost unnoticeable in very small stones. Stones with a rich blue color are the most popular. They are also the rarest and most valuable.
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While the most valuable aquamarines are mined in Columbia and Brazil, caches of the gem have been found even in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Other mines extracting gem quality material are found in Kenya, Zambia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Madagascar.
March Birthstone
In light of spring, the bright blue color of aquamarine is the perfect birthstone for March babies. In resemblance to the color of the sky and water, this stunning gemstone embodies the concept of eternal life. Aside from aquamarine’s aesthetic, the stone is believed to preserve and enhance the mental health as well as the spirit of the wearer.
Not only is aquamarine one of the March birthstones, but it’s also used to celebrate 19th wedding anniversaries. The gemstone symbolizes eternal unity and love; some believe it has the power to rekindle love between two people.
History
- The largest aquamarine crystal to date was found in Brazil — 19 inches long and 242.5 pounds.
- Aquamarine is mined at high elevation in Pakistan’s Karakoram Mountains.
- Like emerald, aquamarine is a color variety of one of the most important gem minerals called beryl.
- Many people wore aquamarine as it was believed to be the actual antidote for poisoning during the Middle Ages.
- The Sumerians, Egyptians and Hebrews admired the gemstone, and most warriors would wear it into battle to evoke victory.
- In ancient times, many doctors would use powder from aquamarine to help cure infections. It was said to have worked best for eye ailments.
- Two thousand years ago, people in Greece engraved designs into aquamarine stones, turning them into intaglios.
- Aquamarine has a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8
- The world’s largest cut aquamarine, named the Don Pedro, is exhibited at the Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
- The spiritual meaning behind the name “aquamarine” is self-explanatory. The gemstone’s sparkling ocean-like color contributes to its name which derives from two Latin words: aqua meaning “water,” and marina meaning “of the sea.”
March-born Celebrities
March brings us a bunch of well-known famous people. Here is just a small list of them: Justin Bieber, Jhene Aiko, Stephen Curry, Ron Howard, Celine Dion, Adam Levine, Queen Latifah, Blake Griffin, Victor Garber, Albert Einstein, Simone Biles, Vincent van Gogh, Eric Clapton