Few gemstones can match tourmaline's incredible colour range, from electric blues and vibrant pinks to watermelon combinations. Dutch traders in the 1600s called it "aschentrekker," meaning ash puller, after discovering it attracted ashes when heated and could draw out dust from pipes.
What is Tourmaline?
Tourmaline is a complex boron silicate mineral that occurs in virtually every colour imaginable, with some crystals displaying multiple colours in zones or along their length. Found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Africa, and the United States, it rates 7-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. The name comes from the Sinhalese "turamali," meaning mixed gems, reflecting early confusion about its identity. Tourmaline is piezoelectric and pyroelectric, meaning it generates an electrical charge when heated or placed under pressure. This unique property made it useful in early pressure gauges and optical equipment.
Stone of the Muse
Ancient magicians used tourmaline as a talisman for protection against negative energy and earthly dangers. Chinese artisans have carved tourmaline for centuries, with the Empress Dowager Cixi so obsessed with pink tourmaline that she bought almost a tonne from California's Himalaya Mine in the early 1900s. Ancient Egyptians believed tourmaline travelled from Earth's centre along a rainbow, collecting all its colours on the journey. Scientists in the 1800s became fascinated by its electrical properties, using it in various experiments and instruments.
Tourmaline Properties
Known as a stone of balance and protection, tourmaline's qualities vary by colour but generally support emotional healing. People appreciate it for:
- Dispelling negative energy and fear
- Balancing the right and left brain
- Enhancing creativity and self-confidence
- Supporting compassion and tolerance
- Grounding spiritual energy into the physical
Its versatile, protective energy appeals to empaths and sensitive individuals seeking energetic boundaries whilst remaining open and creative.