Aquamarine is
Latin for "water out of the sea" and is considered to be a variety of
the gem beryl. Aquamarine is also known as "the sailor's stone" and
the "stone of courage". Ancient
fishermen and sailors did carry an aquamarine talisman when they set sail on
the Mediterranean. The effect was believed to be even stronger when the god of
the sea was engraved in the talisman or amulet. Neptune was for the Romans the
god of sea and Poseidon for the Greek. The Seamen believed that aquamarine gave
them the strength to overcome high waves, strong gusts and prevent them from becoming
seasick.
Aquamarine with
a clear blue or blue green color has been heated to get the perfect color. The distinctive
green color is caused by amounts or iron in the stone itself.
One of the
biggest aquamarine suppliers in the world is Brazil. Mining of the gem takes mainly
place around Teofilo Otoni, located north-east in the state Minas Gervais; One
of the 26 states in the largest South American country. It is the same state
where in 1910 the largest stone of aquamarine was found; it weight over a 240 lbs. Teofilo Otoni was founded in the 19th
century by German colonists. Aquamarine is also found in Asia, in Russia, Pakistan
and Afghanistan. Several countries in Africa and a couple of states in the US do
also have deposits of aquamarine.
The largest
faceted aquamarine is on show in the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. The name of
this exceptional stone is ‘The Dom Pedro’, named after two Brazilian emperors
and was gifted to the museum in 2011. It took 6 months cutting and faceting the
stone into the shape of an obelisk of 14 inches. The aquamarine stone that eventually
was transformed in the Dom Pedro was also originating from the state of Minas
Gervais in Brazil. The original piece that was found was a lot bigger than the
stone that is displayed nowadays in the museum. Brazilian miners accidently dropped
the aquamarine stone, breaking it into pieces.
Looking for Aquamarine pendants or stones?
http://www.richmondcrystal.co.uk/
Looking for Aquamarine pendants or stones?
http://www.richmondcrystal.co.uk/
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