Aquamarine is the gemstone variety of beryllium silicate, much sought after both by collectors of minerals and by jewellers the world over for the transparency of its crystals and their characteristic colouring, varying from deep blue to sea green. The perfect hexagonal prisms of this mineral have fascinated humans since prehistoric times, giving rise to legends, curiosity and attraction. The very name was coined by the ancient Romans: “Aqua Marina”, reflecting their idea of it having a close bond with the sea. Visitors to this room can admire an exceptional specimen found in the Pakistan Himalayas, consisting of sky blue aquamarine crystals set against a matrix of rock rich in mica and feldspar. There are other fine samples of aquamarine among the mineral exhibits, coming from famous deposits in Italy, Brazil and Namibia.
