Aquamarine

Be3Al2(SiO3)6

Aquamarine is a variety of the mineral beryl which has the chemical composition Be3Al2(SiO3)6 . The pale green to blue aquamarine is one of the gem varieties of beryl.

These samples are displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The long dimension of the specimen above is perhaps 30 cm.

The aquamarine beryl sample at right is described as forming with microcline and quartz. It is from Shigar Valley, Dasu, Northern Areas, Pakistan. The large aquamarine crystal is about 20 cm high. Portions of it are of clear, gem quality. Virtually all aquamarine gemstones originate in pegmatites. This sample also demonstrates a well-formed microcline crystal at its base.

This aquamarine sample is from White Mountain, Chaffee County, Colorado. It is about 8 cm across.

This aquamarine sample is formed with fluorite and muscovite. It is from Gilgit, Northern Areas, Pakistan. It is about 16 cm across.

The aquamarine sample at left is from Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is about 30 cm high. The next sample is from Madagascar. It is about 5 x15 cm. The sample below is from Topsham, Maine and is about 5x15 cm.

The aquamarine sample at left is 40-50cm high! It has a mass of 3.1 kilograms. It is from Minas Gerais, Brazil. The large gem cut of aquamarine below is 1000 carats. It is about 12 cm across.

This large sample with prominent aquamarine crystals is from Palmital, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is about 50cm across and is described as aquamarine with albite, schorl, and muscovite.

This sample is described as aquamarine with muscovite. It is from Gilgit, Northern Areas, Pakistan. It is about 20x35 cm.

The gem of aquamarine below is 65.35 carats, some 3 cm across, and is from Mozambique.

This sample of aquamarine is from Minas Gerais, Brazil and is about 8x13 cm.

This sample is from Klein Spitzkopje, Namibia. It is about 5x12 cm.

This sample is from Gilgit, Northern Areas, Pakistan. It is about 3x8 cm.

The aquamarine sample at left is about 3x10 cm. It is from Aqua Preta, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The large gem cut of aquamarine is 911 carat and is also from Minas Gerais.

The aquamarine sample at left below is about 1x5 cm. The gem is 111.4 carats. They are from Boise County, Idaho. The large gem at right is 263.5 carats and is from Russia. The smaller gem is 9.6 carats and is from Mitchell's Peak, North Carolina.

These aquamarine gems are 184 and 186.9 carats and are from Minas Gerais, Brazil. The sample at right is about 13 cm high and is also from Minas Gerais.

Mindat: Aquamarine

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