Aquamarine

What is it and where is it formed?  Aquamarine is the birthstone for March.  It is found in granite and metamorphic rock. How and where is it mined?  Aquamarine is surface mined using an open-pit.  In Africa, most of the aquamarine mining is done by hand.  Fires are set next to giant boulders so that the rock will split open.  This is used instead of blasting with dynamite.  Once the rock splits open, the miners use picks, chisels, and hammers to break it down so that they can get to the gemstones.  Aquamarine is found in:  Brazil, Pakistan, Madagascar, Siberia, and the United States (Colorado). What is it used for?  It is used in jewelry. Interesting information: It is not an expensive gemstone because there is a lot of it around. Some people believe that aquamarines will stop you from being lazy, and make you smarter and braver.

Mineral Characteristic What the mineralogists say Kid's Guide:  What it REALLY means! Chemical Symbol Be3Al2SiO6 It has oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and beryllium in it. Color Green, blue, yellow, pink The most usual color is blue or blue-green.  The color comes from iron. Streak White If you crush this stone, it will make white dust no matter what color stone it is. Transparency Transparent You can see through it clearly. Luster Vitreous It shines like glass. Cleavage Imperfect When it is split, the stone doesn’t break in a regular pattern each time. Fracture Conchoidal When it shatters, the pieces have smooth surfaces. Magnetism None It is not attracted to and will not attract a magnet. Hardness 7.5 It is a hard stone that can scratch glass. Specific gravity 2.8 If you held a stone, it would seem like the right weight for its size—not light or heavy.  It is average. Crystal Shape Hexagonal