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Tourmaline is a crystalline silicate mineral that comes in a wide range of colors and is used as a gemstone:

• Color

  Tourmaline can be black, colorless, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink, or a combination of colors. It can also be bi-colored or tri-colored.

• Composition

  Tourmaline is made up of boron and other elements like aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. The color of tourmaline is determined by the elements present in its composition. For example, green and blue tourmalines contain iron and possibly titanium, while red and pink tourmalines contain manganese.

• Properties

  Tourmaline is pyroelectric, meaning it becomes electrically charged when heated or squeezed. It's also dichroic, meaning it has varying shades of body color.

• Classification

  Tourmaline is a semiprecious gemstone, which means it's not as valuable as a precious gemstone. It's generally inexpensive because it's abundant, but some varieties, like those from Paraiba, Brazil, are more expensive.

• Birthstone

  Tourmaline is the birthstone for October. It's also the gem for an eighth wedding anniversary and is associated with the zodiac signs Libra and Scorpio.

Tourmaline is often confused with other gemstones because of its colorful appearance. Some tourmalines also have a cat's-eye effect called chatoyancy, which is caused by thin, tube-like inclusions that form during the gem's growth.