::TOURMALINE::

HEALING PROPERTIES:
Comes in various colors and hues. Balances, protects, calms, gives self- confidence and cheerfulness. Useful for meditation. Attracts inspiration, goodwill and friendship. Protects wearer against misfortune and anemia. Prevents lymphatic disease. Grounds high-frequency energies. Black or Green Tourmaline strengthens nervous system, regulates blood pressure. Deflects negative energy, attracts prosperity. Blue Tourmaline cures all throat problems, thyroid and speech impediments. Promotes clear verbal expression, dissolves mental friction, emotional constriction. Carries a high electrical charge and if rubbed briskly one end becomes positive and one negative, the energy can then be directed wherever peaceful energy is required. Watermelon/Pink Tourmaline is a heart balancer. Promotes understanding of self and emotions. Enhances flexibility, happiness, objectivity, compassion, serenity, balance, positive transformation, healing, strength, tolerance, and understanding. Excellent channeling stone for communication with higher forces.

PHYSICAL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:
Tourmaline is borosilicate mineral of complex and variable composition. Tourmaline is very abundant and has the best-developed crystals in pegmatites and in metamorphosed limestones in contact with granitic magmas. The colored varieties, when transparent and free from flaws, are cut as gems. Transparent crystals of tourmaline are dichroic - the depth of color varies as the crystal is turned in the light.
Another peculiarity of tourmaline is that crystal when heated acquires an electric charge and attracts small objects such as hair or small pieces of paper. Rubbing crystal imparts a similar charge.

Tourmaline

Chemical Formula

XY₃Al₆B₃Si₆(OH)_{4

(X = Na or Ca)

(Y = Mg, Li, Al or Fe}³₊₎

Hardness

7 - 7.5

Specific Gravity

3.0 - 3.3

Refractive Index

1.62 - 1.65

ORIGIN HISTORY:
Tourmaline came from the Sinhalese name of turmali or tormally (multicolored). For centuries it was known by the name schrol. Colored crystals were imported from Sri Lanka at the beginning of the 18th century.
During medieval days tourmaline was thought to heal physical and mental disorders as well as prevent death. Used as a gem for over 2,000 years. In addition to its use as a gem, tourmaline is employed in pressure devices because of its piezoelectric properties. It has been used in depth-sounding apparatus and other devices that detect and measure variations in pressure.
The colored crystals of tourmaline are very strongly dichroic ' i.e., they are of different color when viewed in the direction of different axes. Plates cut parallel to the vertical axis of a tourmaline crystal allow only the extraordinary ray through; if two such plates are placed in crossed position, the light is entirely blocked. A pair of these plates form a very simple polarizing apparatus known as tourmaline tongs.