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Tourmaline Group

The name Tourmaline is from the Singhalese word tourmali, meaning mixed colored stones because Tourmaline is found in so many differenct colors they were often confused with other gem types.

Tourmaline is a group of related minerals, all having the same basic crystal structure but varying widely in chemical composition. The four most common and well know Tourmalines; Elbaite, Schorl, Dravite and Uvite, can be distinguished by their colors and transparencies.

The most popular and well known Tourmaline is Elbaite. It is the most colorful of all the gemstones and is available in many different colors such as Achroite (colorless), Bi-Color (usually pink and green, also blue and green), Blue, Blue-Green, Green, Indicolite (blue), Orange, Paraiba (containing copper), Pink, Rubellite (Ruby red to pink), Siberite (lavender) and Watermelon (green and pink).

Schorl is the iron rich Tourmaline and is black and opaque. It is the most common of the Tourmalines and is a common accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Even though it is opaque black, it can be faceted into beautiful gems and was very popular in mourning jewelry during the Victorian era. It is currently regaining popularity. Schorl is also found as the needle inclusions in Quartz, known as Tourmalinated Quartz.

The two other well know Tourmalines are Dravite and Uvite. Both are magnesium/iron rich members of the Tourmaline group. Although not nearly as well known as the many colors of Elbaite, Dravite and Uvite are becoming better known and are being collected as mineral specimens and gemstones. Dravite is usually light to dark brown, black or may also be colorless. Uvite is usually found in dark colors such green, yellowish brown, brown, red and black.