Tourmaline

The tourmaline family has the greatest range of colors of any family and species of gemstones. In addition, gems with combinations of colors can be particularly attractive.

Tourmalines have developed a unique set of color names and nicknames.

• Rubellite shows the same fine ruby-red shade in daylight and in artificial light
• Paraiba showing a vivid deep blue to bluish green was found for the first time in 1987 in the mines of the Brazilian state of Paraiba
• Verdelith is emerald-like green caused by chromium traces aka chrome-tourmaline
• Indigolith is a blue tourmaline
• Dravite is a golden-brown to dark brown
• Shorl is black tourmaline
• Watermelon Tourmaline has a red heart and green border

Properties

• Crystal System - Hexagonal(trigonal)
• Hardness - 7 to 7.5
• Specific Gravity - 3.0 to 3.12
• Refraction - Double
• Refractive Index - 1.62 to 1.64
• Dispersion - .017
• Birefringence - .018
• Wearability - Good/Excellent
• Special Care - None