About
Tourmaline is a versatile gemstone that comes in a wide range of colours, including pink, green, blue, black, and even multicoloured varieties. This diversity is due to its complex boron silicate composition with varying trace elements. Major sources include Brazil, Afghanistan, Madagascar, and Nigeria.
Crystal Healing Energy
The overarching theme of tourmaline is protection and balance. Each colour carries its unique energy: black tourmaline is grounding, pink promotes love, green encourages growth, and blue inspires calm. Tourmaline is believed to shield against negative energy, balance the mind and emotions, and encourage self-confidence and focus. Multicoloured varieties are often associated with aligning the chakras and encouraging harmony.
Birthstones & Anniversaries
Tourmaline is an alternate birthstone for October and is traditionally given for the 8th anniversary, symbolising protection, love, and creativity.
Pleochroism
Tourmaline often exhibits pleochroism, meaning its colours shift when viewed from different angles, adding to its dynamic beauty.
Science
- Mineral: Tourmaline
- Crystal System: Trigonal
- Colour: Black, pink, green, blue, yellow, brown, multicoloured
- Refractive Index: 1.614 to 1.666
- Birefringence: 0.014 to 0.022
- Specific Gravity: 2.82 to 3.32
- Mohs Hardness: 7 to 7.5
Treatments
Tourmaline may be heat-treated to enhance colour, particularly in pink and green varieties. Some stones are also irradiated to deepen their hues, though these treatments are stable and widely accepted in the market.
Synthetics
Synthetic tourmaline is rare but has been produced for scientific purposes.
