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Tourmaline is a crystalline silicate mineral that comes in a wide range of colors. It is a popular gemstone for jewelry and is a favorite of collectors.

Description

• Color: Tourmaline can be colorless, black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink, or a combination of colors.

• Crystal structure: Tourmaline has a trigonal crystal structure.

• Luster: Tourmaline has a vitreous (glass-like) luster.

• Transparency: Tourmaline can be translucent to opaque.

• Hardness: Tourmaline has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.

• Electrical charge: Tourmaline can become electrically charged through heat (pyroelectricity) and through pressure (piezoelectricity).

Types of tourmaline

• Iron tourmaline (schorl): Black in color

• Magnesium tourmaline (dravite): Brown in color

• Alkali tourmaline: Can be pink (rubellite), green (Brazilian emerald), or colorless (achroite)