Gemstone profile and identification guide
Aquamarine is appreciated for clarity and calm blue colour more than spectacle. Well-cut stones often look almost water-clear at first glance, with the blue becoming more apparent as light travels through the body of the gem.
Aquamarine is appreciated for clarity and calm blue colour more than spectacle. Well-cut stones often look almost water-clear at first glance, with the blue becoming more apparent as light travels through the body of the gem.
Did you know? Historically, aquamarine was carried as a protective stone by sailors, a tradition linked to its sea-coloured appearance.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Aquamarine
Scientific classification: Cyclosilicate (Beryl Group)
Hardness: 7.5 Mohs
Transparency: transparent
Lustre: vitreous
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Primary colour: Aqua
Secondary colour: Blue
Colour family: Blues & Cyans
Its clean transparency, beryl family hardness, and pale-to-medium blue colour help distinguish it from blue topaz. Aquamarine often looks softer and more sea-toned, while topaz may appear brighter or more electric.
Status: verified-core-fields
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields reviewed against consensus gemological references (GIA/Gem-A/Mindat/IGS).
Some market- and locality-level details may still require citation-grade source notes for publication workflows.
Hardness category: hard
Hardness value: 7.5 Mohs
Chemical composition: Beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18)
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Common locations: Brazil (Minas Gerais), Pakistan (Shigar Valley), Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Aquamarine sits in the blues & cyans grouping here, usually reading first as aqua with blue appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Optical effects: Pleochroism (weak to moderate)
Mineral species: Beryl
Mineral group: Beryl group
Chemical formula: Beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18)
Mohs hardness: 7.5
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Lustre: vitreous
Transparency: transparent
Streak: White
Cleavage: Indistinct basal cleavage
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 2.66-2.80
Refractive index: 1.57-1.60
Optical phenomena: Pleochroism (weak to moderate)
Colour range: Aqua, Blue, Cyan / Blue-Green, Green
Common inclusions: Two-phase fluid inclusions, growth tubes, feathers, and zoning
Geological environment: Aquamarine occurs in Granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal beryllium-bearing veins. Its Hexagonal structure reflects the pressure-temperature conditions of those host rocks, with notable occurrences in Brazil (Minas Gerais), Pakistan (Shigar Valley), Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar.
Principal mining regions: Brazil (Minas Gerais), Pakistan (Shigar Valley), Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar
Important commercial sources: Brazil remains a leading producer; important modern sources include Pakistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Madagascar
Historical significance: Beryl varieties have been used in gems and ornament since antiquity.
Common treatments: Variety-dependent: emerald often clarity-enhanced with oils/resins; aquamarine and morganite are commonly heat treated.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Hydrothermal synthetic emerald and various glass/composite imitations are present in trade.
Common look-alikes: emerald, morganite, beryl
Jewellery uses: Aquamarine is used chiefly for Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.5 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Aquamarine should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.5 in the Hexagonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Use only gentle cleaning because treatment residues can be damaged by heat or aggressive chemicals.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Aquamarine.
Aquamarine is a Beryl material with chemistry Beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18). It develops in Granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal beryllium-bearing veins, and economically significant production is associated with Brazil (Minas Gerais), Pakistan (Shigar Valley), Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar.
Brazil remains a leading producer; important modern sources include Pakistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Madagascar
Best for: Aquamarine is used chiefly for Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.5 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.
Aquamarine should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.5 in the Hexagonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Use only gentle cleaning because treatment residues can be damaged by heat or aggressive chemicals.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (7.5 Mohs), crystal system (Hexagonal), colour profile, and lustre (vitreous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Aquamarine sits in the blues & cyans grouping here, usually reading first as aqua with blue appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Best for jewellery and display pieces where colour, pattern, or internal effect matters more than maximum wear resistance.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
