displaying a pink center with a green rind. Tourmaline Major Sources is often found with multiple colors in one crystal, called Afghanistan, Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, bi-colored or parti-colored stones. Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Tourmaline Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Clarity United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe Tourmalines often grow in an environment rich in Believed to encourage artistic intuition with Mineral liquids, and some of those liquids are often captured the palette to express every mood. Tourmaline group as inclusions during crystal growth. The most typical inclusions resemble thread-like cavities parallel to the Mohs Hardness Egyptian legend has it that tourmaline gathered all 7 to 7.5 length of the crystal. If cut as a cabochon these may the colors while traveling along the rainbow, thus cause a cat’s-eye effect. Pink to red tourmaline often Toughness giving its name, which means “a gem of the rainbow.” has more visible inclusions than green to blue varieties. Fair The word tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word Tourmaline comes in every color, making Color “toramalli” meaning “stone with mixed colors” because Sources it a versatile and All colors it often has multiple colors in one crystal, sometimes desirable gemstone. Brazil is a prolific producer of tourmaline. It is also in extraordinary patterns. Very few gems match mined in Afghanistan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Birthstone tourmaline’s dazzling range of colors, which is why October Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Schneider Thomas M. Gübelin Collection; J. Eduard Dr. Fry; Images courtesy: Bruce A. they were easily confused with other gems until the the United States. Care and Cleaning development of modern mineralogy. Paraíba tourmaline is an intense violetish blue, greenish Warm, soapy water is the best method Treatments blue or blue tourmaline from for cleaning tourmaline. The use of Color Some tourmalines may be treated to the state of Paraíba, Brazil. ultrasonic and steam cleaners is Tourmaline’s wide range of colors vary in intensity and improve their color. The two common not recommended. tone. Many tourmaline color varieties have inspired treatments are heating and irradiation. their own trade names. The most expensive tourmalines Some pink to red colors can be are the highly popular green to violet colors that are irradiated. Blue to green colors often called “electric” or “neon” by the trade. These are often heat treated. are known as “Paraíba.” Pink and red colors called A slice of watermelon “rubellite,” and rich emerald green colors sometimes tourmaline. named “chrome tourmaline,” are also very popular. The name “watermelon tourmaline” is given to a stone Courtesy of

The Passion of Colored Gemstones