According to Egyptian legend, tourmaline passed over a rainbow and assumed all its colors on its journey from the center of the Earth.
Thus, those born in October have the broadest spectrum of colors to choose from in their birthstone, the tourmaline. No other stone comes in as many colors as tourmaline does, from rich reds to pastel pinks and peach colors, intense emerald greens to vivid yellows and deep blues, colorless to chocolate brown and black.
Tourmalines are mixed crystals of boron silicate that comprise of a variety of elements (aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium), which cause the different colors in the crystals. Often tourmalines are bi-colored or multicolored, reflecting variations of fluid chemistry during crystallization.
Tourmaline is mined mainly in Brazil and several countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In the 1500’s a Spanish conquistador mistook a green tourmaline crystal found in Brazil as an emerald. Only in the 1800’s did scientist recognize tourmaline as distinct mineral species.
A couple years ago on a buying trip to Tucson’s gem show, I purchased a strand of watermelon (green on the outside and pink on the inside) and other bi-color and multicolor tourmaline slices. Only this month, after having settled into our new home in São Paulo, did I create jewelry with the strand.
Although I do not know the providence of these stones, they may have come from Brazil. Almost every color of tourmaline can be found in Brazil, and I am now on the hunt for Paraiba neon blue tourmaline…
Happy (belated) birthday, October babies!!!
Thus, those born in October have the broadest spectrum of colors to choose from in their birthstone, the tourmaline. No other stone comes in as many colors as tourmaline does, from rich reds to pastel pinks and peach colors, intense emerald greens to vivid yellows and deep blues, colorless to chocolate brown and black.
Tourmalines are mixed crystals of boron silicate that comprise of a variety of elements (aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium), which cause the different colors in the crystals. Often tourmalines are bi-colored or multicolored, reflecting variations of fluid chemistry during crystallization.
Tourmaline is mined mainly in Brazil and several countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In the 1500’s a Spanish conquistador mistook a green tourmaline crystal found in Brazil as an emerald. Only in the 1800’s did scientist recognize tourmaline as distinct mineral species.
A couple years ago on a buying trip to Tucson’s gem show, I purchased a strand of watermelon (green on the outside and pink on the inside) and other bi-color and multicolor tourmaline slices. Only this month, after having settled into our new home in São Paulo, did I create jewelry with the strand.
Although I do not know the providence of these stones, they may have come from Brazil. Almost every color of tourmaline can be found in Brazil, and I am now on the hunt for Paraiba neon blue tourmaline…
Happy (belated) birthday, October babies!!!