Color aquamarine windows#

The famous Martha Rocha aquamarine, found in Brazil, weighed 134 pounds and yielded more than 300,000 carats of superb blue gems. This irregular prism, transparent end to end, measured 19 inches long and 16 inches across and weighed almost 243 pounds. However, aquamarines may be very large and still be gem quality.Ī blue-green crystal was found in Marambia, Teofilo Otoni, Brazil. You’ll find aquamarines available in a remarkable range of sizes, and lapidaries have cut gems that weigh several hundred carats, much too large to be worn. Beryl crystals weighing many tons have been found in pegmatites, but these are never of gem quality. Uniquely terminated aquamarine crystal from Afghanistan. Antero, Colorado Connecticut (some gem) Maine North Carolina. United States: San Diego County, California (not much gem material) Mt.Other notable sources include the following: Madagascar has more than 50 specific localities that produce fine, blue gem material. Localities include Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, and others. Where are Aquamarine Gemstones Found?īrazil is the world’s major source of fine aquamarine gems. In contrast, one window should be colorless or pale yellowish when viewing an untreated specimen.

Color aquamarine windows#

Both windows remain blue when viewing a Maxixe. You can also distinguish a Maxixe aquamarine from a natural stone with a dichroscope. This differs considerably from natural aquamarine’s spectrum, with a broad band at 4270 and a diffuse band at 4560. With a spectroscope, you’ll see a narrow line at 6950, a strong line at 6540, and weak lines at 6280, 6150, 5500, and 5810. The absorption spectrum of natural aquamarine and the Maxixe also differs. When viewed from any angle, it just shows blue. On the other hand, the Maxixe has no pleochroism. Natural aquamarines have distinct blue and colorless dichroism. You can distinguish the Maxixe from a natural aquamarine by its lack of pleochroism. Although these stones have mostly disappeared from the market, if you’re ever offered a very deep blue aquamarine, buyer beware.

In the 1970s, Maxixe (pronounced mah-SHE-she), a very dark blue aquamarine, appeared on the market, but the color of this irradiated product wasn’t stable. See the section on inclusions below.Īquamarine rough What is Maxixe Aquamarine? Long, hollow tubes, negative crystals, chrysanthemums. Granitic rocks, especially granite pegmatites.

O = 1.567-1.583 e = 1.572-1.590 Uniaxial (-).įrom the Latin aqua marina for 'sea water,' in allusion to the color. Maxixe aquamarine: non-pleochroic (blue/blue). Natural aquamarine: blue/colorless (sometimes greenish). Maxixe aquamarine: a narrow line at 6950, a strong line at 6540 and weak lines at 6280, 6150, 55. Natural aquamarine: a broad band at 4270 and a diffuse band at 4560. May be heat treated to remove green tint. Used with permission.īlueish green, blue-green, greenish blue, blue. 3 and 4 mm aquamarines, 2.25 x 4.25 and 1.5 x 3 mm blue sapphires, and 1 and 1.25 mm cultured seed pearls arranged in a faux-cushion three-stone setting. This unusual arrangement brings together princess-cut aquamarines, marquise sapphires, and seed pearls to create a one-of-a-kind ring.