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Gem mining in Bo Phloi, Kanchanaburi (Thailand)

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UV Fluorescence

When present, a chalky yellow to green fluorescence under ultraviolet light is a good indicator of maxixe-type beryl, which otherwise is absent in aquamarines. However, many resin-treated aquamarines display similar fluorescence, therefore, one needs to be careful while making separation of these beryl types using fluorescence.

Treatment

Heating of aquamarine is well known in the trade, where green component is removed to produce a purer blue of aquamarine. However, colour of ‘maxixe-type’ blue beryl is produced by irradiation of colourless beryl. The author has witnessed some colourless beryls originating from Mozambique turning into blue while they were attempted to produce peach to pink beryl (morganite).

Conclusion

Due to the popularity of “Santa Maria” colour of aquamarine, which is characterized by a deeper blue of medium to high saturation, ‘maxixe-type’ beryl is often misrepresented as aquamarine. However, these are two different varieties and should be presented as what they are.

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