Tourmaline derives its name from the Tamil and Sinhalese words ‘Turmali’ or ‘Thoramalli’, which simply mean ‘a stone with various colours’. This beautiful gemstone with its wide colour range actually does justice to its unique name. Along with its stunning hues, the durability (7 to 7.5 on the mineral hardness scale) and easy availability also contribute to the increased popularity of this gemstone.
In spite of being famous, not many people are aware of the different varieties and hues of this vibrant gem. In this post, we will discuss about the various types of tourmalines and their different colours.
Types of Tourmalines:
Unlike other gemstones, tourmaline is not made of a single mineral. In fact, it is a group of interrelated minerals that have the same crystal structures. The presence of elements like iron, manganese, etc. in these structures gives tourmaline its different hues. Many of these coloured varieties also have their own popular trade names based on which tourmalines are classified into the following types:
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Rubellite:
This tourmaline variety is popular for its intense hues which range from pink to purplish red to orange red. Also, it is easily available and can be found in larger sizes too. All this makes rubellites a favored alternative to other red gemstones like ruby and red spinel.
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Indicolite:
This type includes gems that are blue, violetish blue or greenish blue in colour. They are one of the hardest tourmalines to be found and occur very rarely in nature.
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Paraiba Tourmaline:
This name was given to rare neon blue tourmalines that were found in the late 1980’s in Paraiba, Brazil. Since their discovery, these gems have been highly desired for their exotic hue. With excessive demands and supply shortage, Paraiba is undoubtedly the most expensive tourmaline variety.
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Chrome Tourmaline:
Contrary to its name, chrome tourmalines display an intense green hue. An element named vanadium is mostly responsible for its spectacular hue, which is very similar to that of tsavorite garnets. First discovered in Tanzania in 1960’s, chrome tourmalines are nature’s rarities that are available in small sizes and limited supply. This, however, makes them extremely sought-after among gemstone enthusiasts.
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Watermelon Tourmaline:
This is a bi-coloured tourmaline variety. These gems typically showcase a red or pink centre with a green layer on the outside (or vice versa). More often than not, these crystals are specifically cut to display this special arrangement of red on one side and green on the other.
With its wide variety of exciting colours and splendid allure, tourmalines are without doubt the wonder gemstones of the jewellery world!
