With a name derived from the Latin for “sea water”, aquamarine is a well-known variety of beryl that owes its light blue coloration to the presence of ferrous iron within its internal crystal structure. However, as beryl's yellow-producing chromophore (i.e. ferric iron) is usually also present, most material initially tends to be somewhat greenish and is routinely subjected to heat-based treatments in order to produce more saleable pure blue hues. Aside from their distinctive color, aquamarine crystals are also noted for their large sizes and typically very high levels of clarity.

While Brazil is the world’s primary source for gem-quality aquamarine, commercially-significant deposits are also located within Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Pakistan and Vietnam. In addition, Brazil and Mozambique produce a very intensely-colored sub-variety known as “Santa Maria”, which was named after the former’s Santa Maria de Itabira mine from where it was first discovered.