Gemstones 101 - Did you Know? Tourmaline is the Official National Gemstone of the USA!

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Did you know???

Beautiful Tourmaline is the Official National Gemstone of the USA!

Tourmaline comes in every color and is known for their hardness and durability.
Opal and Tourmaline are the birthstones for the month of October.

Also, the United States National Gemstone is Tourmaline.

Tourmaline is one of the most chemically complex gem materials. It is a very wearable stone that is brilliant and durable.

Blue Indicolite Tourmaline

Rubellite Tourmaline in Gold

Tourmaline

 

Tourmaline comes in many colors such as blue, yellow, pink, red, black, green and clear. Tourmaline comes in many colors - but primarily in pink and green. It is beautiful in rings, necklaces, and pendants.

Colors:

• Indicolite (blue or blue-green) -- moderately scarce and expensive in fine qualitities.
• Rubellite (red) -- moderately scarce and expensive in fine qualitities. Often badly included.
• Bicolor or tricolor tourmaline -- shows multiple color zones throughout the crystal. Highly prized when the colors are well divided and vivid. Often badly included and subject to fracture along the color transition line.
• Watermelon tourmaline -- has a red central core surrounded by green, resembling the cross section of a watermelon. Often cut in thin slices to show the colors to best advantage.
• Schorl -- black tourmaline.
• Dravite -- brown tourmaline.
• Chrome tourmaline -- vivid green. Derives its color from chromium. Appears red when viewed through a Chelsea filter (emerald filter). Fairly scarce and expensive.
• Achroite -- colorless tourmaline. Fairly rare.
  
  
  

  State of Maine Adopted in 1971

  Tourmaline occurs as lustrous, elongate crystals which commonly have a rounded triangular cross section and narrow grooves running parallel to their long direction. The crystals range in size from microscopic to over a foot long. The best examples in Maine are found in a very coarse-grained type of granite called "pegmatite". The slow cooling and solidification of the pegmatite veins allowed the mineral grains to grow to much larger sizes than in ordinary granite. The black tourmaline crystals and many of the brightly colored ones are usually encased in the surrounding rock. However, conditions in some places favored the development of open cavities in which elbaite crystals grew with greater perfection and clarity. These pegmatite "pockets" are the source of Maine's finest gem tourmalines.
  Several spectacular tourmaline pockets were discovered in the Dunton Mine in Newry, Maine, in 1972.
  
  Many fabulous red and green crystals were found, including the ten-inch
  Jolly Green Giant, which is now in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
  

Healing

Dispels fear & negativity & grief; calms nerves; concentration & eloquence improve; genetic disorders, cancer & hormones regulated; raises vibrations; charisma; universal law; tranquil sleep.
Black Tourmaline: Arthritis; dyslexia; syphilis; heart diseases; anxiety; disorientation; raises altruism; deflects negativity; neutralizes distorted energies, i.e. resentment & insecurity.
Rubellite: Creativity; fertility; blanches passive or aggressive nature.
Green: Creativity; opens heart chakra; immune system; psychological problems with the father; blood pressure; asthma; balancer; eliminates conflict within.
Blue indicolite: Lungs, larynx; thyroid; parasympathetic nerves.
Watermelon: Heart chakra healer; imparts sense of humor to those who need it; balancer; eliminates guilt; nervous system; integration, security & self-containmen

Where Found

USA - California, Connecticut, Maine,  New York and Texas.
 

Tourmaline is also found in Africa, Brazil, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka

Birthstone Months

• October: Modern/Traditional Birthstone; Other Birthstone (Pink Tourmaline)
  
  

  Anniversary Gemstone

  Multi-colored Tourmaline is the anniversary gemstone for the 8th year of marriage.
  
  
  

  Mystical Properties

  Pink Tourmaline promotes female balance and protection. Green Tourmaline promotes male balance.
  
  

  Lore

  According to legend, all colors of tourmaline protect the wearer against many dangers and misfortune.
  Tourmaline is the US State Gemstone of Maine. Black Buttom Tourmaline is the US State Gemstone of New York.
  

Anniversary Gemstone

Multi-colored Tourmaline is the anniversary gemstone for the 8th year of marriage.

Multi-colored Tourmaline

yellow Tourmaline
rubellite Tourmaline



pink tourmaline

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