Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a gemstone known for its vibrant color. It is also one of the least expensive gemstones, coming in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. We shall go into everything tourmaline-related, including its origin. Where it is commonly used and how to get the perfect tourmaline gemstone. The most valuable tourmalines are those with remarkable color and purity.
Color
The tourmaline gemstone comes in a variety of colors, hues, and saturation. Black color is the most common color found in tourmaline gemstones. Apart from black, we find blue, pink, orange, green, brown, yellow, purple, and even colorless at times. The tourmaline gemstone sometimes even comes in bicolor, which is a mix of two colors.
Symbolism
The tourmaline gemstone is said to give out positive energy and build friendships. Tourmaline is said to take away negative feelings from people who are broken-hearted and bring out positive feelings in the wearer. It also acts as a shield that protects a person from negative feelings.
Origin
The name tourmaline is derived from the Sinhalese word “Turamali,” which means “Multicolored stone.” It refers to a vast collection of boron-silicate minerals that share a common crystal structure and physical properties but differ chemically. Tourmaline has been used since antiquity. People have been mining and cutting these jewels for generations; but, due to their wide range of colors, they are sometimes misidentified as other gems. It wasn’t until the 1800s that scientists recognized tourmalines as a distinct mineral kind.
uses
The tourmaline gemstone is relatively softer than diamond and it’s only used to make jewelry.
Care & cleaning
Tourmaline is quite sensitive to various elements of nature, unlike diamonds. It is recommended to not expose them to harsh heat or constant air pressure changes, or harsh and toxic chemicals. Filler Tourmaline has a high chance of damage if it’s put into an ultrasonic cleaner or in hot water to wash. Tourmaline is a softer gem, and are in needs to be stored separately from the other harder gemstones to prevent scratches and damage. If you wish to clean your Tourmaline at home, you can use mild dishwashing soap and warm water. Mix well the water with a spoon and place your Tourmaline in this solution carefully. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then brush the gem with a soft brush to remove any residue. While brushing, brush the edges as well. The last step is to rinse the gem thoroughly and wipe it with a clean cloth that is soft and dry. This is one of the best and safest ways to clean Tourmaline.
Types of Tourmaline
uvite
Very rare, green and reddish-brown
elbaite
Found in all colors of the rainbow
dravite
Brown in color
liddicoatite
Rare, triangular cross-section of color. Found in hues of pink, red, blue or green-brown or a combination of all
schorl
Dark blue, blackish, greenish-black