Aquamarine

Aquamarine is blue to slightly greenish-blue variety of the mineral beryl. The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. 

Crystals of gem quality can be very large. Unique Brazilian aquamarines such as the Marta Rocha with a weight of 37.7 kg produced 57.200 carats of cut stones, the Urubu with a weight of 33.2 kg, the Jacueto with a weight of 19 kg, and others, are widely known

The light blue colour of aquamarine leaves the designers free to work with and bring out the brilliance of the gem with fine grooves, notches, curves and edges.

 Hardness 7.5 - 8 

Aquamarine Treatments:-
                                            Greenish hue removed by heat-treatment - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 6
Lower qualities are heated to 725-850 degrees F (400-450 degrees C) to change them to the desired, permanent aquamarine blue. Higher heat will lead to discoloration. Colors can also be improved with neutron and gamma irradiation, but these changes do not last. - Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world, 2001, p 90

Significant Gem Localities:-
                                                Aquamarine can be found in Brazil, Colombia, Zambia, Madagascar, Finland, India, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya. 

Afghanistan:- Badakhshan Province (Badakshan Province; Badahsan Province)
                     Konar Province (Kunar Province; Konarh Province; Konarha Province; Nuristan)
                     Nangarhar Province (Ningarhar Province)
                     Nuristan Province (Nurestan Province; Nooristan Province; Nuristan)  

Brazil:- Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte

Burma (Myanmar):- Mandalay Division, Shan State

Canada:- British Columbia, Yukon Territory

China:- Sichuan Province, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Yunnan Province