mineral

Raw aquamarine (blue-green beryl)

Beryl, Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈; blue-green color from iron impurities

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs hardness 7.5–8, vitreous luster, pale blue to blue-green color, transparent to translucent, and hexagonal crystal structure with poor basal cleavage. The pictured pieces appear rough, fractured, and partly matrix-bearing.

Identified September 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms mainly in granitic pegmatites and associated hydrothermal cavities when beryllium-rich fluids crystallize; deposits are generally Precambrian to younger, depending on the host granite. Common sources include Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Mozambique.

Uses & applications

Transparent, clean crystals are cut as aquamarine gemstones; opaque or heavily included fragments are sold as mineral specimens or lapidary rough. Beryl has minor industrial beryllium uses, though most jewelry material is valued primarily for color and clarity.

Geological facts

Aquamarine is the blue-green variety of beryl, related to emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Heating can remove green tones and produce a purer blue color.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its blue-green hue, glassy luster, hardness, and commonly hexagonal prismatic habit; distinguish it from fluorite by greater hardness and from glass by crystal form and natural inclusions. The image alone cannot confirm identity, and pale green material could also be fluorite or calcite.