Hobbies And Interests
Color
Aquamarine stones can range from light sky blue to a darker oceanic blue. Heat treatment can be used to alter a gem's hue. In this case, blue green or teal stones will be heated to permanently change them to blue.
Composition
Several minerals make up aquamarine. These include, beryllium, aluminum, silicon and oxygen. The presence of iron gives the stone its signature blue coloration.
Properties
Aquamarine is a fairly tough stone with a hardness rating of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale for gemstone hardness. As such, it is difficult to scratch and is likely to wear well.
Places
Africa and the Middle East provide the greatest number of aquamarine sources. Despite this, the world's largest supplier of the stone is Brazil.
Uses
Aquamarine stones are popular in jewelry due to the range of colors as well as overall beauty. In the past, they were also used by sailors for protection against seasickness and danger. Folklore also cites the stone as useful for bringing joy and courage to its possessor in addition to lessening effects of poison.