To find the sources of the March birthstone, we will need to travel across three continents, trek through rain forests and climb dangerous mountain peaks. But before embarking on our aquamarine adventure, let’s learn a little about this gemmological wonder and the properties of this gem so that we can better appreciate where our March birthstone comes from.
Aquamarine is the blue, greenish blue variety of the mineral beryl. Traces of iron in Beryl’s crystal structure cause aquamarine’s colour. Gem and jewellery lovers both prize and adore the aquamarine.
This stone grows in beautiful six sided prismatic crystals and can range from very small to extremely large, such as 10,000 carats! Faceted stones are often exceptionally transparent and often cut in an emerald cut shape. They are usually eye clean stones, meaning there are few or no inclusions.
As mentioned, Aquamarines are mined across three continents, in Brazil, Pakistan, Africa and the USA.
In Brazil, our search would take us to the state of Minas Gerais, which has been an important source for this gemstone for the past two centuries. Travel there and you will find a changing panorama of landscapes, rocky hills, savannahs, forests, streams and lush rolling hills.
Teofilo Otoni, a town in northeast Minas Gerais, is our final destination. The main plaza is something of a bazaar for aquamarines and other gems. A grand Catholic Church and a Spanish style colonial building bookend the square. Street vendors sell their beloved wares, and in the midday sun, you might just see a sloth slowly climbing down a tree at it seeks a shadier spot.
Aquamarine is is a relatively abundant gem and our odyssey to find its sources are by no means exhaustive. Whether you are a March birthstone baby or not, treat yourself to this mesmerising stone, and get ready for some smooth sailing with a piece of this wearable tranquility.