Occurence:
Brazil, Ural Mountains
(Russia), Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nigeria and Madagascar.
Appearance:
Aquamarine achieves its
Blue to greenish Blue. It is a type of Beryl. Its name is Latin for seawater
which appropriately describes the colour.
Something
Extra:
Aquamarine, the "gem
of the sea", derives its name from "sea water". The reference is obvious:
aqua
sparkles like the sea
and its color is pale to medium blue, sometimes with a slight hint of green.
Legends say that it is
the treasure of mermaids, with the power to keep sailors safe at sea.
Aquamarine is said to
be a particularly strong charm when immersed in water (which is a good
thing, since that is when sailors need its power most!)
Mystical and magical qualities
were ascribed to Aquamarine in the Medieval period. By holding an Aquamarine
in your mouth, you could call up the spirits to ask questions. Water in
which an Aquamarine had soaked was prescribed for eye ailments, respiratory
problems and hiccups. To
make some medicinal treatments,
Aquamarines were crushed to create a form of paste. The paste
was applied topically
or further mixed to form a tonic. This tonic was widely used to treat the
Black
Death. The Blue color
of Aquamarine is symbolic of happiness and youth.