Category Archives: 3. March Birthstone Tidbits

This Amazing Aquamarine…

Posted on January 10, 2012 by mrahm

I hope everyone had a blessed holiday season. I wish you prosperity and good health for the new year. I mentioned in a previous post that I have the privilege of touring the gem and mineral collection at the Smithsonian … Continue reading →

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Aquamarine Treatments

Posted on March 26, 2011 by mrahm

Nearly all of the blue aquamarine found in the market today has been heat treated. These aquamarines come out of the ground a bluish green, greenish yellow or even brownish yellow. The heat treatment removes the yellow color to yield … Continue reading →

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Aquamarine’s Crystal Structure II

Posted on March 25, 2011 by mrahm

My previous post addressed the variety of different aquamarine crystal shapes. This fantastic photo I took of an aquamarine crystal cluster perfectly demonstrates aqua’s typical crystal structure. On the left you can see multiple crystals showing the columnar structure of … Continue reading →

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Aquamarine’s Crystal Structure

Posted on March 24, 2011 by mrahm

Some gemstones are commonly found in well formed crystals while others are not. Aquamarine is one mineral varitey that is often found in well formed crystals. It’s crystal structure is a typical hexagonal (six-sided) crystal column with a flat top … Continue reading →

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Aquamarine Sources

Posted on March 23, 2011 by mrahm

Aquamarines are mined in a number of exotic places including Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan and Mozambique, but most of the gemstones available today come from Brazil….particularly the Minas Gerais area. In fact, the largest aquamarine on record, discovered in 1910, … Continue reading →

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Aquamarine Sister to Emerald

Posted on March 14, 2011 by mrahm

Did you kow aquamarine and emerald belong to the same gem species? Both aquamarine and emerald are members of the mineral species, Beryl. The color is the most obvious difference between aquamarine and emerald. Aquamarine ranges in color from greenish … Continue reading →

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Aquamarine Colors

Posted on March 6, 2011 by mrahm

Aquamarines are found in a range of blue shades, from the palest pastel to greenish-blue to a deep blue. While the choice of color is largely a matter of taste, the deeper blue gems are more rare. No matter what … Continue reading →

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Aquamarine: Gem of the Sea

Posted on March 3, 2011 by mrahm

Aquamarine, the birthstone for March, is a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity. Derived from the Latin word aqua marina, meaning seawater, aquamarine captures the beauty of the sea like no other gem. It is said Neptune, the King … Continue reading →

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