Aquamarine (Beryl) with Muscovite on Feldspar - Specimen

Locality: Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Aquamarine is the blue to blue-green variety of beryl, the mineral that also includes emerald and morganite. Beryl is a beryllium aluminium silicate, Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈, with a hardness of 7.5 to 8, and it most often forms in granites and granite pegmatites alongside quartz, feldspar and mica.

The Shigar Valley, north of Skardu, is the gateway for most expeditions to K2, the world's second-highest peak, and one of the most important gem valleys of Baltistan. Its gemstones grow in pockets and cavities in zoned pegmatite dikes that cut the metamorphic rocks of the Karakoram, alongside topaz, green fluorite, black tourmaline, garnet, morganite and goshenite.

Geochemical studies suggest the Shigar pegmatites formed from the melting of metamorphosed sediments, with their emplacement linked to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Aquamarine mining in the valley has a long record: a 1918 Geological Survey of India report described the aquamarine mines of Dassu on the Braldu River.

This one of a kind Aquamarine mineral specimen from Pakistan features bright blue Aquamarine crystals growing from a white Feldspar matrix with silvery Muscovite accents. The Aquamarine shows a strong pale blue to blue-green colour, with natural hexagonal crystal form, glassy lustre, visible growth lines, and partly etched terminations. The white Feldspar base has a rough crystalline texture with small blocky feldspar crystals, natural iron oxide staining, and thin silvery-grey Muscovite sheets tucked into the matrix.

Aquamarine is the blue to blue-green variety of Beryl, the same mineral family as Emerald and Morganite. Pakistan is well known for fine Aquamarine specimens, especially from the northern mountain regions where pegmatite pockets can produce Beryl crystals alongside Feldspar, Quartz, and Muscovite. Specimens like this are appreciated for their natural crystal association, with the blue Aquamarine standing out clearly against the lighter pegmatite matrix.

Aquamarine is often associated with calm communication, emotional balance, courage, and clear thinking. Many people connect it with the throat chakra and use it as a stone for peaceful expression and steady focus. Muscovite is often linked with reflection and awareness, while Feldspar is commonly associated with grounding and practical support.

Chemical Composition: Be3Al2Si6O18

Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.