Aquamarine
Image: Didier Descouens (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameAquamarine
Chemical FormulaBe₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Mohs Hardness7.5
Crystal Systemhexagonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageimperfect basal {0001}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.7
Colorsblue, blue-green
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityMinas Gerais, Brazil
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, collector
Associated Mineralsalbite, quartz, muscovite, feldspar
Rarityuncommon
Description
A beautiful, light blue, prismatic aquamarine crystal is partially encrusted with a white, granular mineral, likely albite, against a dark background.
Geological Context
Aquamarine, a variety of beryl, typically forms in granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, often found alongside other pegmatitic minerals like feldspar and quartz.
