Aquamarine Vs. Goshenite


Aquamarine is a very popular gemstone composed of beryllium aluminum silicate.[1] Goshenite is a gemstone and its chemical composition is beryllium aluminium silicate.[2]

Images of aquamarine

Images of goshenite


Quick Facts on Differences of Aquamarine and Goshenite

For a quick recap of the differences aquamarine and goshenite:
  • While both aquamarine and goshenite can be transparent, aquamarine can be opaque or translucent.
  • Aquamarine can be commonly blue or green while goshenite can be commonly colorless or white.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Aquamarine and Goshenite

The similarities of aquamarine and goshenite include:
  • In terms of crystallography, aquamarine and goshenite both are hexagonal.
  • For chemical formulas, aquamarine and goshenite both are Be3Al2Si6O18.
  • In terms of luster, aquamarine and goshenite both are vitreous.
  • Aquamarine and goshenite both streak colorless.
  • Aquamarine's rarity is similar to goshenite.

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 Goshenite

Goshenite is a colorless variety of beryl, a mineral that belongs to the cyclosilicate family. It is named after the town of Goshen in western Massachusetts, where it was first discovered in 1806. Goshenite is often found in association with other beryl varieties such as emerald, aquamarine, and morganite.

Table Comparison of Aquamarine vs Goshenite

Aquamarine (src) Goshenite (src)
Transparency transparent, translucent, opaque transparent
Chemical Formula Be3Al2Si6O18 Be3Al2Si6O18
Chemical Composition beryllium aluminum silicate beryllium aluminium silicate
Streak colorless colorless
Crystallography hexagonal hexagonal
Hydrous No No
Colors common: blue, green
common: white, colorless