TOURMALINE


What is Tourmaline

Tourmaline is one of very beautiful and valued Semi-precious gemstone. It is a Crystalline Borosilicate Mineral. Tourmaline is formed in variety of colors due to different elements like Iron, Aluminum, Magnesium, Sodium, Lithium, Potassium and many more.

Tourmaline takes its place at 7 – 7.5 out of 10 in Mohs Hardness Scale.  Tourmalines are the gemstones which have lots of varieties, which are Transparent, Translucent and even Opaque.

Tourmaline are found attached to Igneous and Metamorphic rocks. They are formed in fractures, pockets or spaces of rock after Hydrothermal Activity.

Hydrothermal activity is when hot water vapors and elements get filled in fractures of rocks form Tourmaline Crystals ranging from a few millimetres to many kilograms.

Tourmalines have a very rich history, they were first extracted from Brazil which is one of the world’s leading producer of this beautiful gem from past hundreds of years.

Historians state that in 1500s Portuguese explorer found Green and Blue Tourmaline and thought of it as emerald and blue sapphire.

It took them back to Portugal and they even took it as Emerald or Sapphire. Then it got its identity as Tourmaline in starting 1700s, from 1800 onward its discoveries took boost and were extracted from Minas Gerais Mine, Brazil.

Tourmalines were found in many single colors and bi-colors as well and Brazil is considered the best producer of highly valued Tourmaline.

In 1821 United States jumped into the game of Tourmaline when thy first discovered it in Maine. A very beautiful Pink and Green Tourmaline is being extracted, of good quality from past hundreds of years from Maine. Southern Carolina and San Diego are also famous for producing beautiful Tourmalines.

Tourmalines are found in large variety of colors due to different elements that help to form its crystal. It is said that there are 32 forms or varieties of Tourmaline.

Tourmaline are found in Single color which is valued a lot but, in case of Tourmaline as compared to other such gems not only single colored but bi-colored crystals are also valued a lot.

Tourmalines are also Color Zoned, when two or more crystals are formed together they show different colors in one crystal.

Tourmaline also sometimes shows Chatoyant (Cat Eye Effect) as these tourmalines contain thousands of tiny tube like patterns inside. When light reflects they show this cat eye effect.

Tourmaline is a Pleochroic mineral it shows different shades of color when it is slightly moved in light. Cutting of such mineral values a lot because it helps it to show more changing of color when properly cut.

4C’s of Valued Tourmaline

Value of Tourmaline crystal is rated on the bases of Four C's

Cut

Clarity

Color

Carats

Four Species or Types of Tourmaline


Schrol or Iron Tourmaline

Black to Brownish Black they are the most commonly found Tourmalines, which are black in color and are opaque. They have this color because of Iron, even traces of Sodium and Aluminum are found in it. Schrol has a very rich history it is called Schurel, Schorle even Schurl. It’s a German language word and was named after a German village Schorl which is now known as Zschorlau, where it was first found, in 1400.

Elbaite (Named after Elba, Italy)


Rubellite Tourmaline

Red or Pinkish even Purplish Red colored Tourmaline is known by the name Rubellite Tourmaline. Which is a complex borosilicate of mainly Aluminum, Iron and Magnesium.


Pink Tourmaline

Pale Light Pink to Dark or Shocking Pink shaded tourmaline is known as Pink Tourmaline. It is often related to Rubellite but it has its own separate identity.


Indicolite Tourmaline

Light Blue to Bluish Green is called Indicolite aka Brazilian Sapphire derived from Indigo.


Verdilite Tourmaline

Any shade of Green is called Verdilite Tourmaline.


Chrome Tourmaline

Pure Green color that of Emerald is called Chrome.  It’s called Chrome Tourmaline because of Chromium traces found in it, which give this Tourmaline the Emerald green color.


Paraiba Tourmaline (Named after Paraiba State of Brazil)

Neon Blue and Greenish Blue color Tourmaline. It is a very rare and very beautiful Tourmaline. It was first found in Brazil. In states Paraiba and Rio Grande Do Norte. Copper and Magnesium traces are found in it. Due to its scarcity it is very rare and expensive.


Watermelon Tourmaline

Tourmaline which shows color zones of Pink in center and Green on the edges is called Watermelon Tourmaline.


Bi or Tri Colored Tourmaline

Tourmalines which are multi shaded, with different color zones in single crystal are called Bi or Tri colored Tourmaline.


Achroite Tourmaline

Colorless is called Achroite Tourmaline.


Liddicoatite (Named After Late Richard T. Liddicoat, President of GIA)

Smoky Brown even Pink, Red, Green, Blue and rarely White shows color zoning in Pyramid shape. They are rich in Calcium, Lithium and Aluminum. It offers divers color zones in different patterns.


Dravite (Named After Drave District of Carinthia)

Dark Yellow to Brownish in color and its name is derived from Drave district of Carinthia. It consists of Sodium, Magnesium and Aluminum.

Origins of Tourmaline

Tourmalines are found in Brazil, America, China, Madagascar, Kenya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia and India.

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