Aquamarine

History
The name aquamarine means "sea water" and is a direct reflection on its color. Aquamarine beads have been found in some Egyptian tombs, and have been known since that time.

Features
Aquamarine, related to the emerald, frequently occurs completely free from inclusions. Its color ranges from a very pale blue to a medium blue green. It is a member of the beryl family, and crystallizes with six sides and (usually) flattened ends. Although it is very close to the emerald, it does not show the same degree of brittleness, and is quite suitable for pendants, earrings and rings.

Treatments
Aquamarine is frequently heat treated to enhance its usually pale color. Heated aquamarines tend to be a deeper blue than untreated stones.

Principal Deposits
Colombia, Brazil and Tanzania are the principal locations of aquamarine mines today.

Rarity
A flawless aquamarine of minute size is not that difficult to find, however if a rich sea green or blue green color is desired, and the stone is large enough to be faceted, its rarity becomes exponentially greater.