gemstone
Aquamarine
Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18)
Hardness: 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. Color: Pale blue to light greenish-blue. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal Structure: Hexagonal. Specific Gravity: 2.68-2.74. Cleavage: Indistinct.
- Hardness
- 7
- Color
- Pale blue to light greenish-blue
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
Identified More gemstone →
Explore Aquamarine in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. Color: Pale blue to light greenish-blue. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal Structure: Hexagonal. Specific Gravity: 2.68-2.74. Cleavage: Indistinct.
Formation & geological history
Forms in granitic pegmatites and metamorphic schists through hydrothermal processes involving beryllium-rich fluids cooling slowly deep in the crust.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry (rings, pendants, earrings), decorative carvings, and as a popular tumbled stone for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
The name 'Aquamarine' comes from the Latin 'aqua marina', meaning 'sea water', referencing its delicate ocean-blue color. Highly valued historically by sailors as a protective talisman.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its pale ice-blue hue, high hardness (scratches glass easily), vitreous luster, and lack of prominent cleavage. Commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Russia.
More like this
Other gemstone specimens
Diamond and Gold Jewelry
Carbon (Diamond) / Au (Gold)
gemstone
Ammolite
Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
mineral
Cubic Zirconia (simulant) or Diamond
ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)
gemstone
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
sedimentary
Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)
Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)
gemstone
Faceted Gemstone
Unknown transparent mineral, possibly Diamond (C), Cubic Zirconia (ZrO2), Quartz (SiO2), or Glass
gemstone