Mint Tourmaline & Mint Chrome Tourmaline

MintTourmaline_trillion_6.5mm_1.45cts_tm1055_SOLD

An attractive pastel green to bluish-green

Mint Tourmalines have a range of pastel colors in the bluish-green part of the spectrum.

Most Mint Tourmalines are Elbaites. A rare variety of Dravite that is colored by the trace elements vanadium and chromium is known as Mint Chrome Tourmaline

Tourmalines are part of a family of closely related mineral species with the same crystal structure but with different chemical and physical properties.

Since Tourmaline grows in long crystals referred to as “pencils” they are frequently cut as elongated emerald cuts that are perfect for pendants, earrings and even some rings.

Tourmalines are found in many different locations around the world including Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, USA (California, Maine), Congo, Tanzania, and has one of the widest color ranges found in gemstones.

Tourmaline is one of the birthstones for October and celebrates the 8th Anniversary.

Lots of choice in colors for October birthdays!

We have many more colors, shapes and sizes available in Mint Tourmaline – please contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for in our online inventory.

click here to see a selection of Mint Tourmaline & Mint Chrome Tourmaline for sale

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Colors

light green

light bluish-green

light yellowish-green

Family/Species

Tourmaline, Dravite and Tourmaline, Elbaite

Properties

RI = 1.624 (+/-0.005) – 1.644 (+/-0.006) DR

SG = 3.06 (-0.05, +0.15)

Dispersion = 0.017

Hardness = 7-7.5

suitable for use in jewelry

Pyroelectric – becomes electrically charged when heated
Piezoelectric – becomes electrically charged when squeezed
Many modern higher-end hair dryer use Tourmalines in them to prevent static!

Treatments

Usually none

Chrome/Vanadium bearing Dravite gems in Mint colors are almost always Natural, untretaed.

Elbaite gems can be 100% natural with no treatments or enhancements, or heated, or irradiated and heated (irradiation is not common for Mint Tourmalines)

see policy on Treatment Disclosure

Important information

Dravite gems are colored by chromium and vanadium (called “Mint Chrome Tourmaline”);
Elbaite gems are usually colored by iron and titanium

Birthstone

October

Anniversary

8th

Cuts

Calibrated sizes up to 8mm
All standard cuts
and free sizes

Mining locations

Chrome/Vanadium bearing Dravite is found only in Tanzania (Landanai, Morogoro, Umba Valley) and Kenya (Taita-Taveta)

Elbaite is found in Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Afghanistan, USA, and other localities worldwide