A transparent variety of beryl that is blue, blue-green or green in colour. The blue variety is the most valuable and the darker the blue, the more valuable the stone. Derived from ‘aqua marina’, Latin for sea water.Aquamarine is one of the birthstones for March (with bloodstone), symbolising courage.

Hardness: 7.5

Metaphysical Properties: Aquamarine is a ’stone of courage’. It enhances ones ability for rapid intellectual response and helps one to remain impeccable through assimilation of knowledge concerning ones beginning and the reality which one has actualised. It accelerates the intellectual reasoning process and makes one unconquerable through learning - not only about the physical world, but about oneself. It provides a shielding property for the aura and the subtle bodies. It encourages the innate ability to ‘always be prepared’.

Aquamarine has been used in the treatment of swollen glands. It can also be used to balance and fortify the glands, is excellent for the eyes and for improving vision, and assists in the maintenance of the teeth and with the formative bone structure.

Occurrence: The best of the gem-quality aquamarine is found in Brazil. Other localities include the Urals (Russia), Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Namibia and more recently exploited, Nigeria. A dark blue variety occurs in Madagascar and Mozambique.