| Gemstone Library |
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| Tourmaline |
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Click here to see fine Tourmaline gemstones at AJSGems.com
The name "Tourmaline” is derived from the Singhalese expression "tura mali”, which translates as "stone of mixed colours". The name refers to the unique spectrum of colours displayed by this gemstone, which is second to none in the gemstone world.
Tourmaline is the family name which includes the following varieties; Chrome - green, Iindicolite -blue in all shades, Rubellite - red, Dravite - brown, Achroite - colorless, Schorl - Black and Siberite - reddish-violet. Pink, Yellow, Green, Black and Bi-Color Tourmalines are usually called tourmaline with the color denoted as a prefix. |
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| Origin | Afghanista, Brazil, East Africa, Nigeria, Madagascar, U.S.A. |
| Color | Tourmaline can be colorless to just about any color, hue, or tone known to man. Pink, Red, Blue, Orange, Green, Yellow, Black, Bi and Tri color, and Fancy colors of every discription. |
| Refractive Index | 1.624(+.005, -.005) - 1.644(+.006, -.006) |
| Chemical Composition | (NaCa)(LI,MgFe,Al)9B3Si6(O,OH)31 |
| Hardness | 7-7.5 |
| Density | 3.06 (.05, +.15) |
| Crystal Structure | Hexagonal |
| Anniversary | 8th year |
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Tourmaline is a gemstone noted for the large and unsurpassed range of colors in which it occurs.
Tourmalines are precious stones displaying a unique splendor of colors. According to an ancient Egyptian legend this is the result of the fact that on the long way from the Earth’s heart up towards the sun, Tourmaline traveled along a rainbow. And on its way it collected all the colors of the rainbow. This is why nowadays it is called the "Rainbow gemstone”.
The word "rainbow" is used figuratively to describe tourmaline. In reality, it is a well recognized fact that tourmaline's diversity in color is not limited to the seven colors of the rainbow. Tourmaline can be colorless to just about any color, hue, or tone known to man, even individual crystals can vary in color along their length or in cross-section.
The variations in color along a crystal's length give rise to the bicolor and tricolor tourmalines which have multitudes of color combinations. The variation in color in cross-section can be concentric, as in the case of "watermelon" tourmaline, a pink core surrounded by a green rind.
In order to understand this multitude of colors you will have to polish up your knowledge of gemmology: Tourmalines are mixed crystals of complex aluminum-borosilicate varying in their composition. The slightest changes in composition will result in completely different colors. In fact, crystals showing one color only are quite rare; generally one and the same crystal displays several shades and colors. Not only the wide range of colors characterizes this gemstone, it also shows a remarkable dichroism. Depending on the angle of view the color will be different or at least show different intensity. The deepest color always appears along the main axis, a fact that the gemstone cutter has to keep in mind when cutting the stone. Tourmaline gemstone is excellently suited for wearing and is uncomplicated to care for, since all Tourmalines show a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs’ scale.
No Tourmaline exactly resembles another one: this gemstone shows many faces and is thus excellently suited to match all moods and tempers. It does not come as a surprise then, that ever since ancient days it has been attributed with magical powers. Tourmaline is supposed to be an especially powerful influence on love and friendship, giving them permanence and stability. We have a large collection of Fine Tourmaline to help add beauty, stability and even a little love to your life. AJS |
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