Mozambique Aquamarine

Description

Aquamarine is the green-blue to blue variety of the mineral beryl. Beryl also contains other gem varieties, including Emerald, and some lesser known varieties such as Morganite and Heliodor. (Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of the same mineral.) Mozambique Aquamarine colour is usually a light pastel greenish blue.

Mozambique Aquamarine crystals are known to be large in size and relatively clean and well-formed, making them particularly valuable to collectors of mineral specimens. Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin for seawater and it was said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea.  The best gems combine high clarity with limpid transparency and blue to slightly greenish blue hues. It is 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale of hardness which make this Aquamarine ideal for jewellery.

The most valuable aquamarines come from Brazil, but it is also mined in Kenya and Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia.

March’s birthstone was also thought to enhance the happiness of marriages.