TOURMALINE: THE OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE

There exists a story about how the name tourmaline has been given to this stone, it was derived from the Sinhalese word, ‘toramalli,’ which means mixed gems, this is so because the stone is predominantly available in many colors. Originally brought to Europe by Dutch merchants in the first decade of the seventeenth century it was mistaken for rubies and emeralds because of this wide-ranging color spectrum.

Tourmaline’s trip into the world of the gemstone started in Sri Lanka where the gemstone was used by the royals and incorporated into different artefacts. Gradually, Tourmaline was introduced in the European and the American markets and was a popular stone in the manufacture of jewelry, the stone was often termed the ‘gemstone of the rainbow’ because of the huge amount of colors present in it.

Tourmaline’s scientific significance came to light in the 18th century when it was ascertained that by heating or rubbing the stone it became charged and exhibited a phenomenon known as pyroelectricity. This discovery served to complement and add more power to the gem in every culture known to man including the Tourmaline.

Tourmaline is extraordinarily variable in shade and, therefore, one of the most versatile gemstones identified in terms of aesthetic potential.

• Color: This gemstone is formed in every shade from pink, green blue, red, yellow, black, and everything in between. It is also quite common for Tourmaline stones to contain different colors within one single stone; one of the most famous is watermelon Tourmaline with a pink center and green ring.
• Clarity: The clarity of Tourmaline also depends on the color and its classification into different types. For instance, ‘’blue and green Tourmaline is often more transparent than pink or red Tourmaline with inclusions inside it’.
• Cut: Because of its availability in many colors and ranking high in terms of its beauty, Tourmaline is usually fashioned into different styles such as emerald cuts, round shapes, cabs, and others. Typically, as to the cut, it largely depends on the zoning and grade of clarity of the stone.
• Luster: Tourmaline usually has a vitreous, glass-like luster which; increases its attractiveness and desirability in polished form.

A gemstone does not have to be simply beautiful, it can boast interesting properties – and tourmaline is a prime example.

• Hardness: Tourmaline to have a hardness of 7 to 7. It is ranked 5 on the Mohs scale and thus is abrasion-resistant for everyday use though it should not be tossed around like metal and should not be scratched.
• Pleochroism: The richness of colors in Tourmaline is hard to mimic; it is also notable for its ability to demonstrate different colors or even shades depending on the position of the gemstone. This characteristic makes the poem more visually appealing and even more valuable.
• Crystal Structure: Tourmaline is generally a long, thin, prismatic crystal that for the most part displays vertical parallel lines on the termination of the crystal. Its molecular formation is hexagonal, and that explains why the stone has different and highly saturated tones.
• Electrical Properties: Among the exquisite characteristics of tourmaline is that this stone, like some other minerals, is a pyroelectric and piezoelectric gemstone, meaning this stone shall generate an electrical charge once an influence of heat or pressure is applied to the stone. Many of these properties have been looked at to harness them in technology or for medicinal purposes.

Tourmaline is currently being mined in different corners of the world; the stones that are quarried in the different regions, therefore, exhibit differences in color and impression.

Brazil: Brazil is one the biggest suppliers of Tourmaline, particularly Paraíba Tourmaline which is generally blue or green. There are also other colors of Tourmaline namely pink, green, and the multi-color Tourmaline available in the country.

Afghanistan and Pakistan: These areas have the finest type of green Tourmaline known as the “verdelite” and the pink and red Tourmaline called as the “rubellite”.

Africa: Some of the leading producers of Tourmaline are Mozambique, Nigeria, and Madagascar, and the gemstone occurs in a variety of colors including pink, purplish, or bluish.

United States: It is also found in the United States with some deposits being in California and Maine. Maine provides you with pastel Tourmaline while California provides you with many colored Tourmalines with pink and green being the most popular.

It is also an efficient stone related to Libra, the zodiac sign belonging to September 23 – October 22. The representing symbol of Libra is the scales – and yes, this zodiac symbol is one of the most balanced – it equates liberty to justice. These qualities are reported to be boosted by Tourmaline, which is also believed to have an optimistic impact on an individual, being able to calm the emotions of a person and/or their attitude.

However, Tourmaline is also considered the Stone of Scorpio, the zodiac sign for October 23 – November 21 of the Gregorian calendar. Custodial and perceptive Scorpio is assumed to receive the advantageous favor of Tourmaline which is used to channel her energy force appropriately.

Tourmaline is valued not only for its beautiful looks but also because it has an exceptionally wide number of therapeutic effects on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels, which is why it is popular among people who want to receive healing.

Emotional Healing

• Tourmaline, in particular, has an earth connection quality and is used to relieve such feelings as fear, anxiety, and stress. 
• Emerged to serve the purpose of equalizing the right and left brain hemispheres making the mind more clear and emotionally stable. 
• Of all the varieties, Pink Tourmaline carries the meaning of love and compassion to treat the emotional realms and bring harmony to the soul.

Physical Healing

• From a physical response, Tourmaline is said to boost the strength of the immune system and increase energy as well as circulation in the body. 
• It is also believed to have skin benefits – purifying and revitalizing.

Spiritual Healing

• Spiritually, Tourmaline is believed to have a protective coat that may ward off all unwanted energies and nasty influences. 
• It is also employed in ways that augment prayer or deepen the spiritual self, as well as finding spirituality and enlightenment. 
• Black Tourmaline, especially, holds very powerful defensive properties which is why it is used as a shield against detrimental force.

Tourmaline though not very fragile needs polishing and is only moderately hard and can also chip hence needs to be handled carefully.

Cleaning: For cleaning the Tourmaline you should use water that is not very hot and some mild soap and you should also use a soft brush to clean the gemstone. Do not immerse the stone in an ultrasonic cleaner and never use steam cleaners since the cracks and inclusions in the stone can be further injured.

Storage: To ensure that Tourmaline does not suffer from scratches keep it away from other gemstones and minerals in a soft pocket or a box lined with fabric. Due to its pyroelectric character, Tourmaline should also be protected from heat sources and other causes of heat.

Avoiding Damage: Tourmaline is not on the soft end of the spectrum, however, it can be scratched by diamonds or sapphires for example. This is why you shouldn't wear ‘Tourmaline’ jewelry during such activities likely to cause it to come into contact with some tough conditions. However, some of the Tourmaline colors are sensitive to the sunlight and therefore, it is recommended that the stone is kept away from direct sunlight especially if the color may have been treated.

Re-polishing: If the skin of Tourmaline fades, or abrasions appear over time, you can put it up for re-polishing by a professional jeweler.

What are available colors in a Tourmaline? 

Tourmaline is available in a wide range of colors; pink, green, blue, red, yellow, black, and the brownish-green bi-color known as the watermelon Tourmaline.

Is Tourmaline sturdy, such that one can safely wear it daily?

In material properties, its Mohs hardness is between 7 to 7. 5 It is quite hard Stone good for general use though requires a lot of care not to scratch.

What are the benefits of Tourmaline? 

According to the legends, it is to protect the wearer, to bring emotional stability, and to enhance spiritual development as tourmaline is said to dispel energy imbalances and negative energy.