MARCH BIRTHSTONE - AQUAMARINE
The gemstone aquamarine
is the blue, or perhaps more correctly, blue-green or aqua variety of the mineral beryl.
Aquamarine is the birthstone for March, and it
is commonly recognized as the Zodiac
stone for the constellation of Scorpio (although it is usually referred to
as beryl in this regard). As beryl, aquamarine is mentioned in the
Bible. Aquamarine jewelry is associated with
beauty, honesty, loyalty, and happiness.
Other gemstone color varieties that
are also the mineral beryl include emerald,
morganite, and
heliodor.
The hardness and durability of aquamarine make it a fine gemstone, and its
light blue or aqua color makes it a fine choice when the harsher colors of some other
gemstones would overwhelm or distract from an outfit. Its typical delicate color
allows it to be used in a larger stone where its beauty can be impressive.
Aquamarine is colored by trace amounts of iron, and most gem aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green colors from less desirable yellow or pale stones.
The leading producer of aquamarines is the country of Brazil, which has many mines.
Pakistan, as well as many U.S. localities, produce wonderful specimens as well.
Recently, a new mine in China has produced large numbers of excellent flat
(stubby) hexagonal crystals, for a fraction of the price of those beautiful
Pakistan specimens.
Aquamarine is sometimes found in huge crystals (unlike emerald). It is
also known in a glassy form, often without showing crystal form, and sometimes
with many holes or other odd shapes. Other times a large cluster of
prismatic crystals can be seen to all have the same alignment - a sign that it
is really a single crystal with many faces.
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