Rough Tourmaline

Rough Tourmaline is an extremely popular gemstone; the name Tourmaline is derived from Turamali, which is thought to mean "stone with mixed colors." Color is king for tourmaline, which is found in more shades and hues than any other gem. It varies in transparency and color to a substantial extent.

Rough Tourmaline:

Rough Tourmaline is an extremely popular gemstone; the name Tourmaline is derived from Turamali, which is thought to mean "stone with mixed colors." Color is king for tourmaline, which is found in more shades and hues than any other gem. It varies in transparency and color to a substantial extent. Crystals of tourmaline may be of different colors in different portions or uniform color throughout, which makes them appealing.

General Information:

Tourmaline Varieties: Buergerite, Chrom Dravite, Dravite, Elbaite, Feruvite, Foitite, Liddicoatite, Magnesio Foitite, Olenite, Povondraite, Rossmanite, Schorl, Uvite, Vanadium Dravite.
Chemical Formula Na (Li1.5 Al1.5) Al6 (Si6 O18) (BO3)3 (OH)3 (OH)
Lustre Vitreous
Mohs Hardness 7 to 7.5
Specific Gravity 2.85 to 3.35
Fracture Sub-Conchoidal
Inclusions in Tourmaline The thread of fiber-like capillaries often plaited in a net-like pattern. Angular, thin-film mirror-like inclusions. Tube-like two-phase inclusions running parallel to crystal’s length: may create chatoyancy. Flat, film-like liquid inclusions, needle-like mineral inclusions, parallel oriented hollow tubes.
Tourmaline Treatments By heating to (450 - 650 degrees C), color changes can be produced in some tourmalines. Some green tourmaline becomes emerald green; others are lightened. The color of tourmalines that have been changed with gamma-irradiation may fade. Coatings on tourmaline give a wide range of options for color, iridescence, and other appearance factors. The coating is shallow and can be easily damaged without proper handling.
Crystallography of Tourmaline:
Crystal System Trigonal
Habit Prismatic to acicular crystals

Rough Tourmaline Color:

Facet grade green and blue tourmalines are highly sought after; their hues provide the market-pleasing alternative to the deep, magnificent hue of emerald and the softer green of peridot. Paraiba tourmalines, out of Brazil and Mozambique, are currently the most popular of this group. Watermelon Tourmaline, as well as other tourmalines that feature two, three, or more colors, have their own market. They are an exciting sub-set in the family of tourmalines. Bi, tri, and particolored tourmalines are valued based on their coloring and their cut. Rubellite tourmalines, with sparkling pinks and reds, offer colors that are not commonly found in other gemstones. Their unusual coloring gives them a high level of desirability for such lower carat prices than similarly colored rubies.
Color Multi-colored crystals are common
Transparency Transparent, Translucent, Opaque

Rough Tourmaline Clarity:

Tourmalines are often included, but because of their unique and robust range of colors, the clarity takes a back seat to the stone’s brilliance. You can find exquisite, barely included tourmaline stones for a fraction of the price of other gemstones with an intense color like Rubies and Emeralds.

Rough Tourmaline Cut:

Tourmalines are often included, but because of their unique and robust range of colors, the clarity takes a back seat to the stone’s brilliance. You can find exquisite, barely included tourmaline stones for a fraction of the price of other gemstones an intense color like Rubies and Emeralds. As with all facet grade stones, the cutter’s skill makes a huge difference in the polished product. Someone who knows how to maximize light while evading large dull windows in the stones will craft a much higher quality stone with the same rough as someone who is new and still learning this craft. The elongated shape of many tourmaline crystals has a direct impact on the finished gem’s. Gem buyers prefer stones with standard dimensions because they’re easier to set in standard mountings. Cutters often cut tourmalines as long rectangles making them parallel to the length of the rough crystal helps to reduce waste. Tourmaline is strongly pleochroic, which means that it can show different colors in different crystal directions. Also, many tourmalines absorb more light down the length of the crystal than across it. Rather than cutting it lengthwise, many cutters orient a fashioned gem based on its depth of color. To darken pale rough, they might orient a gem’s table, so it’s perpendicular to the crystal’s length. To lighten dark rough, they orient a finished gem’s table, so it’s parallel to the crystal’s length. For transparent tourmalines, a unique cut is required to bring out the brilliance and color saturation. With faceted stones, a marvelous cut is defined by crisp facets that line up and give the overall stone an exquisite shape. When cut properly, the tourmaline’s intense color will be emphasized. Like its color, tourmaline can be cut into many imaginable styles, except pear and round-cut, which is not usual for tourmaline.

Rough Tourmaline Carat:

Beautiful tourmalines in larger sizes rated considerably in per-carat price. Scarcity and prices rise sharply for facet-quality rough material. For exquisite gems of similar color and clarity, the price per carat generally increases as the gems pass the five-carat milestone. Compared to other high-end semi-precious gemstones, tourmaline demands a lower per carat price with equally impressive color ranges. A 3-carat brilliant green tourmaline will be a fraction of the cost of a similar-sized emerald. The below table shows the heaviest and the lightest tourmaline ever recorded!
Heaviest (rough) 354,000 carats
Lightest (faceted) 0.15 carats
Heaviest (faceted) 475.75 carats

Rough Tourmaline Localities:

Enormous deposits of tourmaline are located worldwide; some of the documented deposits are followed!
Country Mines
Afghanistan Paprok Mine, Nilaw Pegmatites, Korgal Pegmatite Field
Brazil Itatiaia Mine, Morro Redondo Mine, Pamaró Mine, Santa Rosa Mine, Urubu Mine, Batalha Mine
India Rajgarh pits
Kenya Lasamba Hill, Mangari
Madagascar Ankarinarivo Pegmatite, Manjaka, Tsarafara Sud, Tsaramanga Pegmatite
Mozambique Naipa Mine, Nanro Pegmatite, Montepuez
Pakistan Donga Nur, Bulochi, Gilgit, Hoh Nala, Stak Nala
Russia Lipovka Mine, Danburitovaya Pegmatite Vein
USA Himalaya Mine, Tourmaline Queen Mine, Little Three Mine, Cryo-Genie Mine
Vietnam Khai Trong Mine, Minh Tien Mine, Tan Lap Mine

Rough Tourmaline Associations:

Chakras Depending on color
Birthstone October
Zodiac Virgo, Libra
Anniversary 8th

Healing Properties of Rough Tourmaline:

Balance, Compassion, Happiness, Happiness, Objectivity, Serenity, Positive transformation, Strength, Understanding
  • Rough Tourmaline has believed to increase the strength and creativity of wearer’s.
  • Rough Tourmaline helps to treat paranoia, improve hand-eye combination, and overcomes dyslexia.
  • Rough Tourmaline eliminates misunderstanding and helps you to understand yourself and others.
  • Rough Tourmaline release tension, diminishes fear and promotes self-confidence.
  • Astrologists recommend rough tourmaline for body detoxification and stress reduction.

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