PINK TOURMALINE

Pink tourmaline is the pink colored crystalline silicate member of the tourmaline family of minerals. It is an uncommon species of tourmaline, and may account for less than 10% of all tourmaline that is found in nature. Sometimes referred to as Rubellite, "pink tourmaline" is the general term for the variety; However, according to the GIA, the term “Rubellite” specifically refers to the deeper, more reddish shades within that color range. Forming in the Trigonal crystal structure, single crystals of tourmaline are easy to identify by their curved triangular cross-section, with parallel striations running up the sides, and a pyramidal termination at the top. The tourmaline mineral group is one of the most chemically complicated groups of silicate minerals. Its composition varies widely because of isomorphous replacement, or solid solution replacement, which creates the possibility of displaying a wide range of zoned colors within a single crystal. Additionally, colored crystal variations of tourmaline with high transparency are often strongly dichroic, which means that they have the ability to shift and change color when viewed at different axes positions. Pink tourmaline has a complex chemical formula, but a (somewhat) simplified representation is (Na,Ca)(Mg,Li,Al,Fe2+)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4. This chemical formula indicates that it is a borosilicate mineral, with variations in the trace elements present within the structure. The variations in these elements contribute to the wide range of colors and properties seen in the tourmaline family. In this instance, the pink color is most often due to trace amounts of manganese. Pink tourmaline also exhibits a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, as it is also so with the other tourmaline members.

TOURMALINE HISTORY AND USES

Early history and mining of tourmaline stretches back into the late 1300’s, when the town of Schorl, which is currently named Saxony, Germany, originally discovered a black variation of the material within the tin mines of the area. Along with black tourmaline, also called schorl, another mineral called cassiterite was highly sought after for its valuable tin content. In fact, cassiterite is still considered a primary ore of tin today. Throughout modern history, tourmaline has been prized for its wide array of color and clarity. It has been frequently cut and used as a gemstone, with exceptionally well-formed crystals being highly sought after by collection enthusiasts and museums. In addition to its use as a popular gem, tourmaline is often applied in high pressure devices. This development is employed because of its piezoelectric properties, which is the ability to generate electric charge under mechanical stress, or friction. It has been used in depth-sounding mechanics and apparatus (such as sonar), as well as other devices that detect and measure variations in pressure.

TOURMALINE FAMILY

There are three primary types of tourmalines, which are distinguished by the predominance of certain elements: iron tourmaline, or schorl, which is black in color; magnesium rich tourmaline, or dravite, which is brown to yellow in color; and alkali, or lithium tourmaline, called rubellite, which is pink to red in color, as well as the rarest form, called indicolite, which is vibrant green to blue in color. Occasionally, certain crystals of bi-color tourmaline are pink at one end and green at the other, while other rare and highly sought-after variants display beautiful and contrasting bi-color combinations of pink and blue zoning. Additionally, a rare variant of tourmaline, called Watermelon Tourmaline, displays initial zoning formation of pink rubellite, with a later developed variant of green indicolite encasing the initial rubellite formation. Formations of multicolored tourmaline zoning occurs when the trace elements change in concentration or composition during a crystal’s growth process. Another formation, which is found in extremely rare occurrences, is a complex calcium-rich lithium tourmaline from Madagascar, called Liddicoatite. It is revered for its well-developed color zoning and unusual Trigonic crystal symmetry. The trigonal pattern is most visible when the tourmaline is polished into slices, with color zoning often ranging between combinations of pink-blue-green-yellow. Liddicoatite was named in honor of Richard T. Liddicoat, who lived March 2, 1917 through July 23, 2002. He was the second president of the GIA and is often referred to as the “Father of Modern Gemology.”

PINK TOURMALINE METAPHYSICS

Metaphysically, pink tourmaline is said to bring an abundance of heart healing and emotional support to its user. A stone of the Heart Chakra, it is said to aid the user by allowing for feelings of compassion, empathy, and Love to take center stage within their life. A powerful tool for providing emotional balance, it often used to bring a sense of peace and calm to everyday situations. Pink tourmaline is also said to attract Love to an open heart, and provide valuable insights into finding the purest forms of personal gratification. Physically, it is said that pink tourmaline can help to aid the body with emotional trauma response, as well as afflictions of the heart and lungs.