Where is Tourmaline found?
Tourmaline Group
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Open the appTourmaline occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Tourmaline
Brazil
Minas Gerais is a world-renowned source for gem-quality tourmaline, including Elbaite varieties like Rubellite, Indicolite, and Watermelon Tourmaline.
United States
Maine and California (especially San Diego County) are historically significant for gem tourmaline, particularly pink and green varieties.
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Known for fine gem-quality tourmaline, including vibrant greens, blues, and pinks, often found in pegmatites.
Africa
Countries like Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Namibia are important sources of various tourmaline colors, including Paraíba-type tourmaline (copper-bearing Elbaite).
Sri Lanka
Historically a source of various gem tourmalines, often found in alluvial deposits.
Collecting tips
- Pegmatite Environments. Focus on areas with granitic pegmatites, especially those with signs of hydrothermal alteration. Tourmaline often forms in pockets within these pegmatites.
- Metamorphic Terrains. Look for tourmaline in schists, gneisses, and quartzites, particularly where boron-rich fluids may have been present during metamorphism.
- Alluvial Deposits. Due to its hardness and resistance to weathering, tourmaline can be found in placer deposits downstream from primary sources. Look in stream beds and gravels.
- Distinctive Crystal Habit. Learn to recognize the characteristic prismatic crystals with vertical striations and often a rounded triangular cross-section. This is a key identifier in the field.
- Color Variation. Be aware of the vast color range. Black tourmaline (Schorl) is the most common and can indicate the presence of other tourmaline varieties nearby.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Highly variable (black, pink, green, blue, brown, colorless, multi-colored)
- Luster:
- Vitreous to resinous
- Streak:
- White
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