Tourmaline
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
Category
MineralRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
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
Ability
Electric Touch
Tourmaline has piezoelectricity, generating an electric charge when squeezed, which makes it useful in some electronics.
Ability
Heat-Powered Charge
Tourmaline has pyroelectricity, meaning it can generate an electric charge when heated or cooled, like a tiny natural battery!
Ability
Shifting Colors
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
Vitreous luster describes a mineral's appearance when reflecting light, resembling glass, often translucent or transparent.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Fluorescent
Fluorescent minerals emit visible light when exposed to ultraviolet light or other non-visible radiation, a phenomenon called fluorescence.
Gemstone
A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut and polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.
Crystalline
Crystalline describes a mineral or rock composed of crystals, often exhibiting a regular atomic structure and geometric external form.
Also known as
ElbaiteIndicoliteRubelliteSchorlWatermelon Tourmaline
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Handle gently and avoid sharp edges. Ask an adult before picking anything up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors can Tourmaline be?
black, pink, green, blue, red, yellow, multicolored, colorless
How hard is Tourmaline?
7.5
What kind of luster does Tourmaline have?
vitreous
What is Tourmaline's specific gravity?
3.15
What crystal system does Tourmaline belong to?
trigonal
Snap Map
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