Any blue tourmaline that is diamagnetic can be identified as paraiba tourmaline colored by copper in contrast to magnetic blue tourmaline colored by iron. List of major tourmaline species. Brazil has been the world s leading source of tourmaline for nearly 500 years. In the 1500s portuguese explorers obtained green and blue tourmaline from indigenous people and from panning streams in search of gold they thought that these colorful stones were emeralds and sapphires and sent them back to portugal where they were cut into gems and used to make jewelry for. It comes in almost every color in the rainbow and is one the brightest and most versatile gemstones available.
This month s featured gems. Tourmaline is a gemstone that has been revered for centuries. About tourmaline why buy tourmaline. Tourmaline comes in all hues making it unique and versatile in gemstone designs. It carries the distinction of having the widest variety of colors of any gem mineral.
Tourmaline gemstone is a semi precious mineral similar to granite. Found in lava meteorites and deep in the earth s mantle yellow green peridot is the extreme gem. A gemstone spectrum brian c. Schorl tourmalines are typically black sometimes with a blue or brown tint and are not the stones usually used in the gem and jewelry industry. Most tourmaline can be found in long slender faceted stones because of the shape of the raw mineral.
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It is also available in numerous cuts and calibrated sizes. This is the most common tourmaline species to be found in nature making up to 90 of all tourmalines. For example blue indicolite tourmaline is the only blue gemstone of any kind that will show a drag response when a neodymium magnet is applied. In some tourmaline gems this effect is hardly noticeable while in others it is strongly apparent. While geologists appreciate tourmaline for its mineral makeup others believe that the gemstone offers both physical and mental healing properties one feature that distinguishes tourmaline from other minerals is its three sided prisms as well as its vertical striations.These are the planet s most valued gems. Tourmaline is a beautiful stone which has remarkable qualities that makes it an excellent choice for modern jewelry. Its name is derived from the sinhalese word thoramalli and it is one of the most complicated groups of silicate minerals. Gemstone cutters must take this into account when cutting a tourmaline so that the finished gem brings out its best color. These are the planet s most valued gems.
Gemstone cutters must take this into account when cutting a tourmaline so that the finished gem brings out its best color. It is also available in numerous cuts and calibrated sizes. Tourmaline gemstone is a semi precious mineral similar to granite. This month s featured gems. Any blue tourmaline that is diamagnetic can be identified as paraiba tourmaline colored by copper in contrast to magnetic blue tourmaline colored by iron.