Tourmaline

Info: Tourmaline is the name of many chemically simmilar minerals. Some of the tourmalines are elbaite, dravite and skoryle. Tourmaline crystalises in long collum crystals, some even more than 10 cm long. Different tourmalines can form different agregates. Tourmaline can be found in almost all colourations, only not in purple. The most common is the black tourmaline named skoryl.

How to recognize: Tourmaline is mechanically and chemically strong and it can be found in granites and pegmatites. It has piezoelectric abilities.

Found: Tourmaline was found in Paly (California, USA), Minas Gerais (Brazil), in Urals (Russia) and in Sri Lanka. It was also found in almost every country of western and central Europe.

Used for: Coloured tourmalines are used in jewelry.