AllMineralsRock
Aquamarine Vs. Turquoise
Aquamarine is a very popular gemstone composed of beryllium aluminum silicate.[1] Turquoise is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is copper aluminum phosphate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Aquamarine and Turquoise
For a quick recap of the differences aquamarine and turquoise:- While both aquamarine and turquoise can be opaque or translucent, aquamarine can be transparent.
- In terms of crystallography, aquamarine is hexagonal while turquoise is triclinic.
- For chemical formulas, aquamarine is Be3Al2Si6O18 while turquoise is CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8• 4H2O.
- While both aquamarine and turquoise is vitreous, in terms of luster, turquoise can be dull or waxy.
- Aquamarine streaks colorless while turquoise streaks white.
- Aquamarine's hardness is higher than turquoise - aquamarine ranges from 7.5 to 8 and turquoise ranges from 5 to 6 on the Moh's scale.
- Aquamarine's specific gravity is higher than turquoise - aquamarine ranges from 2.66 to 2.8 and turquoise ranges from 2.4 to 2.6.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Aquamarine and Turquoise
The similarities of aquamarine and turquoise include:- Aquamarine and turquoise both can be commonly blue or green.
- Aquamarine's rarity is similar to turquoise.
Summary of Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a blue-green variety of the mineral beryl. It is a popular gemstone because of its beautiful color and clarity. The name aquamarine comes from the Latin words aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning sea. This is because the color of aquamarine is similar to the color of the ocean.Summary of Turquoise
Turquoise is a mineral that is a blue to greenish-blue color, often with veins or web-like patterns of darker color running through it. It is a relatively soft mineral, with a Mohs hardness of between 5 and 6, and has been used for decorative purposes for thousands of years. One of the most famous sources of turquoise is the Southwest United States, particularly Arizona and New Mexico, but it can also be found in other parts of the world, such as Iran, Afghanistan, and China.Table Comparison of Aquamarine vs Turquoise
| Aquamarine (src) | Turquoise (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | Be3Al2Si6O18 | CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8• 4H2O |
| Chemical Composition | beryllium aluminum silicate | copper aluminum phosphate |
| Specific Gravity | 2.66, 2.8 | 2.4, 2.6, 2.84, 2.9, 2.9 |
| Hardness | 7.5, 8 | 5, 6 |
| Streak | colorless | white |
| Crystallography | hexagonal | triclinic |
| Refractive Index | 1.567, 1.59 | 1.59, 1.65 |
| Hydrous | No | Yes |
| Colors | common: blue, green |
common: blue, green less common: pale, turquoise, gray, multicolor |
| Fracture | conchoidal, uneven | conchoidal, uneven |