Tourmaline 碧玺
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Tourmaline’s colors have many different causes. It’s generally agreed that traces of iron, and possibly titanium, induce green and blue colors. Manganese produces reds and pinks, and possibly yellows. Some pink and yellow tourmalines might owe their hues to color centers caused by radiation, which can be natural or laboratory-induced....
Tourmaline’s colors have many different causes. It’s generally agreed that traces of iron, and possibly titanium, induce green and blue colors. Manganese produces reds and pinks, and possibly yellows. Some pink and yellow tourmalines might owe their hues to color centers caused by radiation, which can be natural or laboratory-induced.
FACTS
- Mineral: Tourmaline
- Chemistry:
- Elbaite Na(Li1.5,Al1.5)Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)4
- Dravite NaMg3Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)4
- Liddicoatite Ca(Li2Al)Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3F
- Chromedravite NaMg3Cr6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)4
- Color: All colors
- Refractive index: 1.624 to 1.644
- Birefringence: 0.018 to 0.040
- Specific gravity: 3.06 (+0.20, -0.06)
- Mohs Hardness: 7 to 7.5
1554: Francisco Spinoza’s expedition discovers “Brazilian emerald”: the first recorded green tourmaline crystal.
PYROELECTRIC: Tourmaline becomes electrically charged when heated. Also when squeezed: it’s piezoelectric too.
PARAIBA: Brazilian source famous for vivid blue to green tourmalines colored by copper.
WHY WE LOVE THIS GEMSTONE
TRIGONAL SYSTEM
Tourmaline crystallizes in the trigonal system; no other common mineral has three-sided prisms.
WATERMELON VARIETY
Watermelon tourmaline is green on the outside and a delicious pink on the inside.
LIDDICOATITE
Liddicoatite tourmaline was named for beloved former GIA President Richard T. Liddicoat.