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Q: What is tourmaline, and what colors does it come in?
A: "Tourmaline" refers to a large group of minerals with similar crystal structure and varying chemical composition. Very few naturally occurring tourmalines are suitable for use as gemstones. Tourmaline is a relatively hard (7.0 Mohs' hardness) gemstone, consisting of borosilicates of aluminum, sodium and magnesium . Tourmaline is one of the most diversely colored of all gems and minerals - occurring in nearly every color imaginable.
In Maine, the most commonly occurring colors are shades of green, blue green, and pink.
Q: Is tourmaline rare? How valuable is tourmaline?
A: It is uncommon to find tourmaline possessing a bright attractive color (pink, red, green, blue) suitable for gemstones, which is also free of defects and inclusions. Such specimens yield quite valuable finished cut stones. As a mineral, tourmaline is found throughout the world, most often as a black variety called schorl, which has no value as a gemstone.
Q: I've heard of Watermelon Tourmaline. What's that?
A: "Watermelon Tourmaline" is a term used to describe the unique
tourmaline crystals found in Newry , Maine by the Plumbago Mining Corp. These crystals had the curious property of having a green outer "skin" and a deep, reddish pink "core" -
hence the term "Watermelon" [Photo].
Q: So tourmaline can have more than one color in the same crystal? How is that possible?
A: Tourmaline is unique as a gemstone, not only in that it occurs in nearly
every possible color, but also because a single crystal may exhibit as many as three or four different colors. The cause of this odd behavior
is a combination of subtle changes in chemical composition and crystal structure , which occurred when the tourmaline crystal was formed. As a result, some tourmalines may be cut so that they are, for example, green at one end and pink at the other! [Photo]
Q: How is Maine Tourmaline special?
A: For
nearly 200 years, Maine has produced some of the finest tourmalines in the world. Maine is especially noted for its many shades of premium quality pink and green tourmaline.
Tourmaline was the first gemstone to be mined in North America.
Q: Where can I go to see specimens of raw tourmaline, and examples of some the finest cut stones in the United States?
A: Come by and visit us here at Mount Mica Rarities, in Locke Mills,
Maine. [Directions and Map] We have on display, some of the most spectacular specimens of tourmaline found in North America. Our shop offers mineral specimens
and gemstones mined by us at Mount Mica, and other Maine localities. We specialize in Maine Tourmaline Jewelry, and jewelry fashioned from other Maine Gemstones, such as Aquamarine, Amethyst, Garnet and
Smokey Quartz. The majority of our gemstones are cut right here on the premises by our master cutter: Phillip McCrillis, a fourth generation Maine gemstone miner.
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