Tourmaline

Sources

Crystals (UK) tourmaline comes from many countries. Presently most of our tourmaline is from Madagascar, Pakistan and Brazil (Minas Gerais). In years gone by, tourmaline was widely mined in Cornwall and can be found in many museums in our towns.

Origin

Tourmaline is a family of minerals with closely related chemical compositions. They form in igneous (volcanic) and metamorphic rocks and are occasionally formed in alluvial deposits and sedimentary rocks.

Composition

Tourmalines are complex silicates containing boron and a range of other elements which determine their colour.

Structure

Trigonal with a distinctive columnar habit. (Mohs scale 7 – 7.5)

Colour

Tourmaline shows the greatest range of colours of any gemstone and can show spectacular multicoloured bands within a crystal. Can be translucent or opaque. Crystals (UK) specialises in the following colours for specimens and jewellery: green, pink, watermelon (pink and green), black and the particularly sought after blue.

Our View

Tourmaline specimens have been collected for over 200 years and this tradition continues with our buyer, whose specimens have recently featured in a book that we sell – The Essential Crystal Handbook by Simon and Sue Lilly. Fantastic specimens can be admired at the Natural History Museum (London).

We purchase rough, especially black, specimens with amazing terminations and cut stones for setting (which are frequently sent from one country to another). Bi-coloured and watermelon are always popular but not easily found. Inclusions of black tourmaline in quartz makes especially mysterious and dramatic jewellery.

Tourmaline can command a king’s ransom when exhibiting flawless surfaces and perfect cutting – as seen at the 2006 Hong Kong Jewellery Show.

Curious facts

Tourmalina is a Brazilian mining town renowned for tourmaline, and Russia also has mining settlements named after this important mineral.

Month stones
January - Garnet also Ruby
February - Amethyst also Bloodstone
March - Aquamarine also Jade
April - Quartz also Opal
May - Rose Quartz also Agate
June - Pearl also Moonstone
July - Ruby also Carnelian
August - Peridot also Sardonyx
September - Iolite also Lapis Lazuli
October - Opal also Pink Tourmaline
November - Topaz also Citrine
December - Turquoise also Tanzanite
Zodiac Stones
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19) Amber, Carnelian, Garnet, Onyx, Smoky Quartz, Turquoise
Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18) Aquamarine, Amethyst, Amber, Celestite, Fluorite, Labradorite
Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20) Moonstone, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Blue Lace Agate, Fluorite, Turquoise
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) Ruby, Aventurine, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Garnet, Kunzite
Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) Azurite, Kyanite, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Rhodonite, Tigers Eye
Gemini (May 21-Jun 20) Chrysocolla, Citrine, Serpentine, Tourmalinated and Rutilated Quartz, Tiger's Eye
Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) Moonstone, Pearl, Opal, Ruby, Moss Agate, Amber
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22) Tiger's Eye, Ruby, Carnelian, Kunzite, Larimar, Rhodocrosite.
Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22) Peridot, Amazonite, Citrine, Garnet, Moonstone, Opal
Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22) Iolite, Opal, Kunzite, Lapis Lazuli, Moonstone, Peridot
Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) Topaz, Malachite, Charoite, Garnet, Obsidian
Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21) Turquoise, Amethyst, Labradorite, Sugilite, Topaz, Garnet
There are a few stones that are suitable for every Zodiac sign: Moldavite, Tourmaline, Clear Quartz and Herkimer Diamond.