How is Aquamarine Formed?

Aquamarine gemstones belong to the prestigiousemplacement, granite rocks got displaced and
beryl group of minerals. Beryl crystals are someeroded to form hydrothermal carbonate veins
of the precious gems that occur in nature.that host aquamarine in large quantities.
The name -Aquamarine- has its origin in the LatinThis clear and transparent gemstone often occurs
phrase 'Water of the sea'. Yes, this pleasing totogether with well known pegmatite accessory
the eye gem stone has the color of 'water of theminerals like garnet, biotite, topaz and phenakite.
sea' indeed.Chemically stating aquamarine is a beryllium
Indigenous rocks facilitate the growth conditionsaluminium silicate mineral. It has Mohs hardness
for aquamarine formation. As the pluton gotranging from 7.5 to 8 with a specific gravity of
cooled minerals got crystallized to formabout 2.68 to 2.74. Good hardness and good
gemstones like aquamarine. The size of thespecific gravity, the prominent properties of this
crystal is a relative to the cooling rate. Big crystalsgem makes it available in alluvial deposits as well.
are formed when the rate of cooling is very slow.Aquamarines are largely found in Brazil, Zimbabwe,
These gemstones get formed naturally underNamibia, South Africa, and United States are
specific violent geologic conditions. Formation ofsome other places where it is present in large
naturally occurring aquamarine gemstones datesquantities. In India dark blue aquamarines have
back to 35 million years ago when the mineral-richbeen mined.
high-pressure magma flowed below into the rockIt is quite common that aquamarine roughs are
layers of mountain ranges. As it got cooled, theavailable in huge masses in nature. Roughs as large
magma fluid got trapped in to cavities ofas 110kilograms have been discovered at some
mineral-saturated fluid that got heated to a verymines. Enormous quantity of gems weighing
high 1,112° F. Minerals including aquamarinesaround 2000 carats have been cut from crystal
and other gemstones crystallized of these fluidformations that occur in nature.
pockets. Over millions of years the pressure andThe pale green to pleasant blue shades of
temperature variations caused erosion, uplift andaquamarine is caused by the iron present in its
displacement that all resulted in crystals, mineralscrystalline structure. The trace amounts of iron
and gems.present in this beautiful gemstone give them their
Aquamarine, a precious earthly gem is found inbeautiful color that ranges from pastel blue to
naturally occurring geological formations. Thesebluish green.
crystal formations are popularly termedThis gem usually occurs in very large crystals that
pegmatite. Generally large crystals form in openare shaped in perfect hexagons. Bi-color
vugs called pockets. These are commonlyaquamarines are also naturally present together
associated with crystals of feldspar, muscovitewith other beryl minerals like morganite. Naturally
and quartz.occurring aquamarine rough are usually flawless
These gems also occur in cavities in granites anddevoid of any inclusions and are not very
greisens. During the cooling stages ofexpensive.