Post by Kirree on Apr 10, 2004 17:32:10 GMT -5
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SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Tourmaline which is green-and-pink zoned, (pink in the center and green on the outside,) is referred to as Watermelon Tourmaline. The coloring is most pronounced when cut in "slices" perpendicular to the long axis of the crystal. The Tourmaline group is a complex silicate of boron and aluminum, whose composition varies widely because of substitutions. The chemical formula reflects this complexity, Na(Mg, Fe)3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH,F)4. The hardness is between 7 and 7-1/2 and the streak is white.
ENVIRONMENT: Tourmaline forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks and veins. It occurs with lepidolite, microcline, and spodumene in granite pegmatites; with andalusite and biotite in schist of regional metamorphic rocks; with siderite and quartz in hypothermal veins, nd with molybdenite and cassiterite in massive hydrothermal replacement deposits.
OCCURRENCE: The most famous Tourmaline deposits are in Sri Lanka, the Soviet Union (Urals), Afghanistan, Burma, California, Maine, Connecticut, Brazil, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
GEMSTONE INFORMATION: Tourmalines are mounted or cut into faceted gems.
NAME: The name is from the Singhalese [touramalli], which means "mixed colored stones". The reference to Watermelon refers to the appearance of a "slice".
LEGEND and LORE: I am unable to find any "ancient" references to Tourmaline. I think this is partially due to them being confused with other stones that their coloring resembles. The closest that I could come was a reference to the "ancients" using various colors of Tourmaline for "calming and relaxation."
MAGICAL PROPERTIES: In the past, Tourmaline (of any color) was not commonly used for magical purposes. Cunningham suggests its use for balancing the male and female aspects of personality.
HEALING: This stone, because of it's dual coloring is considered important in linking the upper and lower Chakras. It is associated with the Heart Chakra for this purpose. It is also recommended as a "balancing" stone, because it contains opposite colors (green/red).
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Tourmaline which is green-and-pink zoned, (pink in the center and green on the outside,) is referred to as Watermelon Tourmaline. The coloring is most pronounced when cut in "slices" perpendicular to the long axis of the crystal. The Tourmaline group is a complex silicate of boron and aluminum, whose composition varies widely because of substitutions. The chemical formula reflects this complexity, Na(Mg, Fe)3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH,F)4. The hardness is between 7 and 7-1/2 and the streak is white.
ENVIRONMENT: Tourmaline forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks and veins. It occurs with lepidolite, microcline, and spodumene in granite pegmatites; with andalusite and biotite in schist of regional metamorphic rocks; with siderite and quartz in hypothermal veins, nd with molybdenite and cassiterite in massive hydrothermal replacement deposits.
OCCURRENCE: The most famous Tourmaline deposits are in Sri Lanka, the Soviet Union (Urals), Afghanistan, Burma, California, Maine, Connecticut, Brazil, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
GEMSTONE INFORMATION: Tourmalines are mounted or cut into faceted gems.
NAME: The name is from the Singhalese [touramalli], which means "mixed colored stones". The reference to Watermelon refers to the appearance of a "slice".
LEGEND and LORE: I am unable to find any "ancient" references to Tourmaline. I think this is partially due to them being confused with other stones that their coloring resembles. The closest that I could come was a reference to the "ancients" using various colors of Tourmaline for "calming and relaxation."
MAGICAL PROPERTIES: In the past, Tourmaline (of any color) was not commonly used for magical purposes. Cunningham suggests its use for balancing the male and female aspects of personality.
HEALING: This stone, because of it's dual coloring is considered important in linking the upper and lower Chakras. It is associated with the Heart Chakra for this purpose. It is also recommended as a "balancing" stone, because it contains opposite colors (green/red).