Tourmaline
Topaz TrilobitesSources
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.