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What it is
Aquamarine is the blue gemstone found in the mineral beryl.
Geography
Beryl is a common mineral which is mined world-wide, although not all of it produces gemstones.
Qualities
Aquamarines are very hard stones, rating 7.5 to 8 on the hardness scale (with talc being no. 1 and diamonds being no. 10). This causes the stone to have a brilliant shine.
Coloring
Pure beryl is colorless. It is the mixture of iron in the mineral that produces the aquamarine. Colors range from very pale to deep, sea blue to the occasional blue-green.
Related Stones
Aquamarine is not the only gemstone mined from beryl. Other members of the family include emeralds, morganite and heliodor.