Aquamarine (gem)

Aquamarine is a pale-blue to light-green variety of beryl. The color of aquamarine can be changed by heat (though this practice is frowned upon by collectors).

Aquamarine has a chemical composition of Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈, also containing Fe²⁺. It has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. While aquamarine often contains no inclusions, it can have them, noticeable or not, composed of content such as mica, hematite, or saltwater.

Aquamarine is a common gemstone. However, there is a rarer deep blue variant called maxixe, but its color can fade due to sunlight. The color of maxixe is caused by NO₃. Dark-blue maxixe color can be produced in green, pink or yellow beryl by irradiating it with high-energy radiation (gamma rays, neutrons or even X-rays).