What is Tourmaline?
The silicate mineral called tourmaline is formed of crystals having columnar and prismatic structure. Cross-section of these structures have a triangular shape. The name, tourmaline comes from a Sinhalese word, Thuramali. There is also a great variety in the colors of tourmaline crystals. Depending on the degree of iron, magnesium and other elements found in its composition, this mineral attains a variety of shades. It is said that no two tourmaline stones look exactly alike. Let us understand what is tourmaline by means of information presented below.
Facts about Tourmaline
The tourmaline stones found in Sri Lanka were transported to Europe by the Dutch East India Company in huge quantities. These stones are also found in other countries like Brazil, USA, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi. As stated earlier, tourmaline is a crystal with a triangular cross-section. It is the only common mineral which has triangular crystals i.e. crystals with three sides.
Commonly found color in these stones is green. Magnesium-rich stones of this mineral have different shades of yellow and brown. The stones with high amount of iron are brown, bluish-black or black in color. Stones with lithium as their main component do not possess a specific shade. These gemstones have different colors like green, red, blue, yellow, pink, etc. Hardness of tourmaline stones as measured on Mohs scale ranges from 7 - 7.5.
Different Types of Tourmaline
Tourmaline stones are classified into types such as schorl, dravite and elbaite. Descriptions of these types can be found in the paragraphs below.
Dravite
Gustav Tschermark was the first person to use the term, 'dravite'. The dravite stone was named after the Drava river (present day Republic of Slovenia). Gustav Tschemark was Professor of Mineralogy in the University of Vienna. The dravite stones are rich in magnesium and sodium; the chemical formula for these stones is NaMg3(Al,Mg)6B3Si6O27(OH).
Schorl
The schorl stones account for 95% of different tourmaline stones. These stones are found in a variety of shades including that of black, brownish black and blue. The 'schorl' tourmaline stone is named after a village in Germany with the same name. Today, the name of this village has been changed to Zschorlau. This mineral has the following chemical formula: NaFe++3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4.
Elbaite
It is one of the types of tourmaline which contains lithium. Arfwedson was the scientist who found out presence of lithium in these stones. The extensive chemical analysis of elbaite stones took place on Elba Island, Italy. The chemical formula of elbaite is Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(BO3)3[Si6O18](OH)3(OH).
What is Tourmaline Technology?
The fact that application of pressure on tourmaline results into emission of heat is the base of tourmaline technology. Let us understand what is tourmaline technology used for. There are many uses of tourmaline in different fields such as cosmetic industry, jewelry making and electrical products. The dryers and hair straighteners are examples of electrical products made using tourmaline. The use of mineral also results into health benefits and strengthening the immune system. Black tourmaline stones are known for their insecticidal properties. Electromagnetic properties of this mineral have application in the treatment of arthritis. The crystal-form of these stones are used for the purpose of relaxation and to cure sleep disorders.
What is a Tourmaline Hair Dryer?
This type of hair dryer is made from crushed mineral tourmaline; the tourmaline flat iron is used for the purpose of hair straightening. The ionic and infrared properties of tourmaline hair dryers help in attaining a smooth and shiny hair surface. Instead of heating the surface of hair, the heating emitted from these dryers penetrates the hair shaft itself.
Tourmaline stones are amongst important minerals found in the nature. These are not just attractive gemstones, but also have applications in different fields. One can answer the question, "What is tourmaline?", easily, after reading facts related to properties of these stones, their different types and various applications.
