AQUAMARINE, MORGANITE, TANZANITE
Aquamarine, Morganite, and Tanzanite are incredibly valuable and unique stones.
JEWELRY SUGGESTIONS
AQUAMARINE
Aquamarine is a stunning gemstone known for its beautiful blue hue and clarity. It is a type of beryl mineral, with its color ranging from pale blue to deep blue-green. Let's explore the best qualities of aquamarine that make it a popular choice for jewelry:
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Formation:
Aquamarines are formed in pegmatite veins, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks that form from cooling magma. Therefore, it typically occurs in granitic rocks and is associated with other minerals such as feldspar, mica, and quartz.
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Mining:
Like emeralds, aquamarines is a variety of a mineral called beryl. Large gemstones have been found all over the world but it is mined mainly in Brazil, but it is also found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan, and Mozambique
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Characteristics:
- Hardness: Aquamarine is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, so it is a durable gem for jewelry as long as it is treated with care to protect it against scratching and hard knocks
- Color: Aquamarine has a narrow color range. It comes in a verity of different blues with the gem's most valuable color being a dark blue to slightly greenish blue.
- Clarity: Most faceted aquamarines are eye-clean and stones with eye-visible inclusions are usually made into cabochons, beads, or carvings. Though some beryl crystals have enough parallel inclusions—usually long hollow or liquid-filled tubes—to allow cutters to fashion the rough to show a cat’s-eye
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Carat Weight: The size of an aquamarine is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger rubies are rarer and more valuable.
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Cuts:
A gem desired to be used in jewelry can be made into a wide variety of finished gems. Step cuts are characterized by facets that are rectangular or square, usually chosen when the gem cutter wants to show off saturated aquamarine color.
Brilliant cuts are the ones with kite and triangle-shaped facets. Generally, brilliant cuts are intended to reflect light from the bottom of the stone and send it back to the eye of the viewer and is an excellent way to “hide” inclusions in the facets and make them less obvious. -
Synthetic Aquamarines:
Synthetic aquamarines have the same chemistry, scratch resistance, and color as their natural counterparts. A synthetic aquamarine is created using a hydrothermal growth technique. This process mimics the underground conditions where these gems form naturally.
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Symbolism:
Like it's name suggests, aquamarine symbolism is based heavily on the sea. It represents exhilaration as well as relaxing calm. It was thought to protect those at sea. And today, aquamarine represents happiness, hope and everlasting youth
MORGANITE
Morganite is a captivating and beautiful gem from the beryl mineral family,
prized for its delicate and alluring pink to peachy-pink hues. Here's a comprehensive overview of morganite:
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Formation:
As a beryl, Morganite falls into the same family as Emerald and Aquamarine, with a similar formation, beryllium, aluminum, silicon and oxygen combine to create the mineral Beryl. Morganite's coloration is attributed to the presence of trace amounts of manganese in the crystal structure
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Mining:
Morganite is typically found in granitic pegmatites, which are igneous rocks with exceptionally large crystals. Major sources of Morganite include Brazil, particularly the state of Minas Gerais, as well as Afghanistan, Madagascar, Mozambique, and the United States
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Characteristics:
- Hardness: Morganite ranks a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale and thus has fair to good toughness, making it a stone that requires more care in wearing than ruby or sapphire
- Color: Morganite occurs in and is known for its delicate pink to peachy-pink hues.
- Clarity: Morganite is, like many gems, typically transparent, allowing light to pass through the gem with minimal obstruction. This transparency enhances its brilliance and allows for the reflection and refraction of light within the gem.
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Carat Weight: The size of a morganite is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger rubies are rarer and more valuable.
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Cuts:
A gem desired to be used in jewelry can be fashioned into a wide variety of finished gems. Step cuts are characterized by facets that are rectangular or square, usually chosen when the gem cutter wants to show off saturated aquamarine color.
Brilliant cuts are the ones with kite and triangle-shaped facets. Generally, brilliant cuts are intended to reflect light from the bottom of the stone and send it back to the eye of the viewer and is an excellent way to “hide” inclusions in the facets and make them less obvious. -
Synthetic Morganite:
As a beryl, a synthetic Morganite is created using a hydrothermal growth technique, just like synthetic emeralds or aqamarines.
Synthetic Morganites have exact same chemical compositon and physical as their natural counterparts. -
Symbolism:
Morganite is often associated with innocence, sweetness, romance and love and is said to promote love, compassion, and healing. And today, aquamarine represents happiness, hope and everlasting youth
TANZANITE
Tanzanite is a rare and precious gemstone that is highly valued for its unique qualities. Let's explore some of the best qualities that make Tanzanite stand out among other gemstones:
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Formation:
Tanzanite was formed around 585 million years ago during the mid-Ediacaran Period by massive plate tectonic activity and intense heat in the area that would later become Mount Kilimanjaro. The mineral is located in a relatively complex geological environment. Deposits are typically found in the "hinge" of isoclinal folds.
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Mining:
Tanzanite is only found in Simanjiro District of Manyara Region in Tanzania, in a very small mining area approximately 7 km (4.3 mi) long and 2 km (1.2 mi) wide near the Mererani Hills.
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Characteristics:
- Hardness: Tanzanite ranks a 6.5 on the Mohs scale and thus can be scratched if brought into contact with other gemstones. Like Pearl or Opal, take care to store Tanzanite jewelry in its own protective pouch to avoid scratching or chipping
- Color: Tanzanite is noted for its remarkably strong trichroism, appearing alternately blue, violet and burgundy depending on crystal orientation.
- Clarity: Clarity is usually graded on a scale from Flawless to Included (I1, I2, I3), based on the presence and visibility of these imperfections.
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Carat Weight: The size of a tanzanite is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger rubies are rarer and more valuable.
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Cuts:
Tanzanite can be found in a variety of shapes and cut in a variety of ways, just like diamonds. With it's iconic color and trichroism many will want a cut that will enhance these features
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Lab-grown Tanzanite:
Because of it's limited nature, there is a great interest in making synthetic Tanzanite and as of 2020, it has never been successfully synthesized in a lab.
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Symbolism:
Tanzanite is commonly believed to facilitate a higher consciousness and stimulate intuition and perception. Some believe that it aids in detoxifying the body and improving vitality. It is said to be a good stone to wear or have near in situations where you need a calming and soothing presence.