Feature
Gems & Gemology, Fall 2012, Volume 48, No. 3
Inclusions in Aquamarine from Ambatofotsikely, Madagascar
Fabrice Danet, Marie Schoor, Jean-Claude Boulliard, Daniel R. Neuville, Olivier Beyssac, and Vincent Bourgoin
In January 2012, aquamarine crystals containing interesting inclusions were extracted from the Ambatofotsikely area northwest of Antsirabe, Madagascar. These specimens displayed various types of eye-visible and microscopic inclusions, and some had an unusual form. Raman microspectroscopy identified reddish brown platelets as hematite, while ilmenite was found as black platelets, black needles, and distinctive dark gray dendrites. Similar inclusions are known in beryl from Brazil, India, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka.
