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Beryl

Aquamarine

Light blue to blue-green, sea blue

Blue
Optical properties

Optical characteristics

Ref. index
1.565 – 1.602
Birefringence
0.005 – 0.009
Luster
Vitreous
Pleochroism
Weak Weak: blue / colorless to pale blue.
Fluorescence
Usually inert.
Origins

Source localities

Pakistan Pakistan: Shigar / Swat / Sapat Valley
Premium ★ Top Source

Important source for aquamarine, topaz, peridot, tourmaline and rare minerals.

21.4% est. supply
Afghanistan Afghanistan: Panjshir / Nuristan / Badakhshan
Premium ★ Top Source

Known for emerald, tourmaline, kunzite, lapis lazuli and rare minerals.

18.1% est. supply
Brazil Brazil: Minas Gerais / Paraíba / Bahia
Major

Major source for beryl, tourmaline, quartz, topaz, chrysoberyl and rare minerals.

14.5% est. supply
Madagascar Madagascar: Ilakaka / Andranondambo region
Major

Modern major source for sapphire, garnet, beryl, quartz, tourmaline and many collector gems.

17.1% est. supply
Nigeria Nigeria: Oyo / Ogun / Plateau fields
Major

Important source for tourmaline, sapphire, garnet, beryl and topaz.

14.5% est. supply
Mozambique Mozambique: Montepuez / Alto Ligonha / Cuamba
Major

Major modern source for ruby, garnet, tourmaline and Paraíba-type tourmaline.

14.5% est. supply
Treatments

Enhancement & treatment

Heat Heat Treatment, Aquamarine Heating aquamarine is common and stable. It improves color by reducing green or yellow… Heat Heat Treatment, Beryl Heating is common in several beryl varieties to improve or stabilize color. It is…
Inclusions

Inclusions & features

Crystals Crystal Inclusions Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may… Synthetic Curved Growth Striae, Synthetic ID Under 10x loupe in immersion: curved parallel lines flowing through the stone in sweeping… Fractures Feathers and Fractures Under 10x loupe: irregular internal surfaces that catch light and appear bright, wing-like, or… Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look… Needles Growth Tubes, Rain Inclusions Under 10x loupe: long thin hollow channels running parallel to each other and to… Clouds Pinpoint Clouds Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small… Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Identification

Instruments used

Dichroscope Reveals pleochroism, instantly eliminates singly-refractive stones 10x Loupe Your most-used instrument, start every examination here Polariscope Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive Refractometer Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin