ExploreMineral

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a colorful gemstone that can be found in many colors, like pink, green, and blue! It is very popular in jewelry.

Appearance

The Tourmaline has an incredible range of colors, from deep black to vibrant pink, green, and blue. Its crystals often grow long and slender, sometimes showing different colors within the same crystal, like a watermelon.

KingdomAnimalia

Tourmaline

Interesting facts

Ancient Egyptians thought tourmaline traveled through a rainbow to get its amazing colors.

It is one of the few gemstones found in almost every color of the rainbow!

Some tourmaline crystals look like watermelons, with a pink center and a green rind!

Tourmaline can attract dust after being rubbed, like a tiny natural static magnet!

Special abilities

Tourmaline has piezoelectricity, generating an electric charge when squeezed, which makes it useful in some electronics.

Tourmaline has pyroelectricity, meaning it can generate an electric charge when heated or cooled, like a tiny natural battery!

Tourmaline exhibits pleochroism, appearing different colors when viewed from various angles, creating a shifting rainbow effect.

Measurements & details

Color Range: black, pink, green, blue, red, yellow, multicolored, colorless
Hardness: 7.5
Luster: vitreous
Specific Gravity: 3.15
Crystal System: trigonal

Traits

Vitreous Luster

These minerals sparkle with a beautiful, glass-like shine! Imagine looking at a clean piece of glass, and you'll know what vitreous luster looks like.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Fluorescent

Discover special rocks and minerals that glow with bright, exciting colors when you shine a certain type of light on them, like magic! These hidden colors are a spectacular natural secret.

Gemstone

Sparkle and shine with these precious minerals that come from the earth! Gemstones are beautiful, rare, and often cut and polished to create dazzling treasures.

Crystalline

Find minerals that have grown into beautiful, sparkly shapes with flat faces and sharp edges, like tiny natural sculptures. These amazing formations reflect light in unique ways!