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Dimensions:

18.8 x 8.0 x 6.5 mm

8.0 x 6.8 x 5.8 mm

Tourmaline is a vibrant, complex gemstone known for its wide array of colors, which arise from varying chemical compositions. It's a borosilicate mineral that can be found in nearly every color of the rainbow, including black, brown, pink, red, green, and even bicolor or multicolored crystals. Beyond its beauty, tourmaline is also known for its ability to become electrically charged when heated or under pressure, a property utilized in various applications.

Key Characteristics:

• Color Variety:

  Tourmaline's most distinctive feature is its diverse color palette. Black tourmaline, called schorl, is iron-rich, while brown tourmaline (dravite) is magnesium-rich. Other colors, like pink (rubellite) and green (Brazilian emerald), are due to different trace elements. Some crystals even exhibit color zoning, with different colors at opposite ends or in concentric bands.

• Composition:

  It's a group of related minerals, not a single mineral, sharing a similar crystal structure but with varying chemical compositions. This variation is due to the presence of different elements like sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, and others, which influence the color.

• Hardness:

  Tourmaline has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable and suitable for jewelry.

• Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric Properties:

  Tourmaline can generate an electric charge when subjected to pressure (piezoelectric) or heat (pyroelectric).

• Common in Pegmatites:

  Tourmaline is often found in pegmatites, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks, and in metamorphosed limestones.

• Semi-precious Gemstone:

  While some tourmaline varieties are quite valuable, it's generally classified as a semi-precious gemstone due to its abundance.

In summary, tourmaline is a visually striking and chemically diverse gemstone with a rich history and a variety of uses, from jewelry to scientific applications.