Sedona Gem and Mineral Club

Aquamarine is the blue variety of minerals known as beryl. A perfect birthstone for March, its mesmerizing color ranges from pale to deep blue and are reminiscent of the sea. Faceted aquamarines are often free from inclusions and as clear as water, symbolizing purity of spirit and soul. 

The Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has been an important source of aquamarine for the past two centuries. Travel there, and you will find a changing panorama of landscapes: rocky hills, rivers, and scrub brush dominate the central and eastern regions; savannahs, forests, and streams checker the west; and lush green hills roll southward. Aquamarines are found in primary (hard rock) and secondary (weathered) pegmatite deposits in the eastern portion of the state, near the gem center of Teófilo Otoni.

Aquamarine is also found high in the Karakorum foothills of Pakistan. To reach the deposits, miners must climb steep paths to elevations of 9,800 to 13,000+ feet and work the sides of forbidding cliffs. Below this inhospitable rocky world lie fertile valleys, rushing rivers, and small towns. Aquamarine from this area has been described as “water clear.”

Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin word for seawater, and ancient mariners claimed the gem would calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. This March birthstone was also thought to bring happiness in marriage and has a reputation for protecting one’s well-being.