Know the Name of Different Types of Tourmaline Gemstones

Image source: CF Brandt Jewelers

Tourmaline is a group of interrelated minerals with similar crystal structures. They make for unreasonably beautiful and sought-after gemstones. These durable gems are seen in a variety of attractive tones like green, red, multicolor, and many more. It is not just popular jewelry gemstone but some of its varieties are also used for astrological purposes, that are known for their specific tourmaline benefits.

Different varieties of Tourmaline

Let us have a quick look at different varieties of Tourmalines for better understanding

SODIUM CONTAINING TOURMALINE

Sodium-containing tourmaline is a fascinating and complex mineral that belongs to the tourmaline group, a family of boron silicate minerals that are known for their wide range of colors and compositions.

1 SCHORL (BLACK TOURMALINE)

It is a beautiful form of tourmaline. It can be seen in black, dark bluish-black or dark greenish-black and, unlike other varieties, is never transparent or translucent. Schorl is based on a Sodium crystal structure but has high amounts of Iron(Fe) impurities which lend it the dark color.

2 ELBAITE

It is found in essentially every color of the rainbow. Many of the green and blue specimens have interesting optical properties like Pleochroism i.e they display different shades when viewed from different angles. These gemstones are also built on a Sodium structure and also have Lithium present in their chemical structure. There are numerous varieties of Elbaite, each with its different properties and chemical structure, though all of them will have Sodium and Lithium as a basic component of their lattice structure.

3 DRAVITE (BROWN TOURMALINE)

It is the Brown Tourmaline that develops in crude uninteresting formation. Nevertheless, some of the high-quality specimens are shaped into lustrous beautiful gems. Dravite is named after Dravograd, in Slovenia, the area where Dravite was originally described. This Tourmaline variety is also based on Sodium,, but has significant Magnesium impurities in it.

4 VERDELITE (GREEN TOURMALINE)

It is the green elbaite tourmaline and is seen in varying shades of green due to the presence of iron and titanium. Some Verdelite gemstones are so saturated that the right light is necessary to view the body color.

CALCIUM CONTAINING TOURMALINE

Calcium-containing tourmaline represents a unique and less common subgroup within the broader tourmaline family, a diverse group of boron silicate minerals renowned for their extensive range of colors, chemical compositions, and crystal structures.

1 LIDDICOATITE

It is a rare form of Tourmaline, substantially similar in chemical composition to Elbaite. It was not seen as a separate Tourmaline species until 1977 as before that time, it was considered to be Elbaite. It displays beautiful triangular cross-sections of color and is seen in a variety of hues like pink, red, green-brown or blue, or a combination of all.

2 CHROME TOURMALINE

It is an intense green tourmaline that is colored by chromium and vanadium. The color varies from strong bluish-green to very slightly yellowish-green.

RARE VARIETIES OF TOURMALINE

Rare tourmaline varieties, with their mesmerizing colors and unique compositions, stand out in the mineral world. Gems like paraíba, rubellite, and indicolite are celebrated for their scarcity and vibrant beauty, reflecting the unique geological conditions under which they form.

1 ACHROITE

It is the colorless variety of elbaite tourmaline. It is very rare and is exceptionally prized by collectors.

2 RUBELLITE

Rubellite is a natural gemstone from the colorful family of the elbaite. Its color ranges from red to violet to pale and dramatic pink due presence of iron and manganese. Its name is derived from the Latin word “rubellus” that translates to reddish in English. Its rarity and charm make it a highly luxurious gem.

3 WATERMELON TOURMALINE

Tourmaline is a variety of Elbaite Tourmaline with a pink center and a green perimeter around the outside, just like the pattern usually seen in a watermelon fruit.

4 CAT'S EYE TOURMALINE

Exhibits chatoyancy due to the presence of parallel inclusions consisting of fairly large hollow tubes. Since the hollow tubes are moderately big in diameter they produce the cat's eye effect.

5 INDICOLITE TOURMALINE

It is a highly valuable variety of elbaite tourmalines. Its hues vary from lighter to deep, intense blues due to the presence of iron. Cutting indicolite requires great skill, as it is heavily pleochroic and seems darker when viewed from certain angles.

6 BI-COLOR TOURMALINE

These are a rare type of Tourmalines, where two or more distinct color crystals develop together to become one beautiful gem. Most often these gems feature a sequence of pink and green or some variation.

7 PARAIBA TOURMALINE

Paraiba Tourmaline is the rarest variety of Tourmaline. It is seen in a variety of hues like Neon Blue, Green, and Blue-Green due to the presence of copper and manganese, with the appearance that appears like electric green-blue lightning within the gemstone. It was earlier mined from Brazil, but now we have other deposits from Nigeria and Mozambique.

Conclusion

Tourmalines are like nature's rainbow, coming in many types and colors, from bright blues to rare kinds with special ingredients like calcium. They're not just pretty to look at; they also tell us cool stories about how the Earth works and changes. Each kind of tourmaline is a little piece of Earth's history, showing us the beauty and science of our planet in a way that's both fun and interesting.