Tourmaline
This amazing stone was first discovered off the coast of Italy in the late 1600s or early 1700s. The name tourmaline is derived from the Sinhalese term turmali.
They gave this name to all the coloured crystals off the coast of Sri Lanka. The gem dealers could not distinguish this unique stone from other known stones of similar colours. In fact, they considered the early green tourmalines emeralds and the pink tourmaline often ruby. At one time it was thought that the stones in Russian crowns were rubies and now that they were pink tourmaline.
The varied colours of tourmaline and its properties
Tourmaline can be found in a wide range of colours, more colours than any other gemstone, with pink being the defining stone for October. Pink tourmaline gets its color from the manganese and other metals present in its crystal structure and is the rarest.
Years ago, each tourmaline color had its own name, but now all colors are known as tourmaline with the color of the stone in front of the name.
Tourmaline mining
Over time, we find tourmaline in various regions of the planet. Since the 1980s, the Paraíba region of Brazil has been producing some of the most impressive stones in the world. Madagascar and Afghanistan have become synonymous with the bright red tourmaline stone. Today there are active mines in India, Australia, Switzerland, the United States, Canada and parts of Africa.
Advantages and strength of tourmaline
Like so many other stones, people believe that tourmaline has far greater utility than beauty and aesthetics. Beliefs about the powers of the stone has to do with the part of the world in which they use the stone.
A Dutch scientist said that a tourmaline in silk will bring sleep to a restless child. Also in Africa, they used the stone to wake someone from “the dream of illusion”. But also in India, to bring good and promote insight. Native Americans use tourmaline to protect against danger.
Ancient tradition of tourmaline
The ancient Egyptians had a fascinating relationship and belief about tourmaline. They believed that these stones were given this vibrant color by the breaking of a rainbow when they came out of the earth's core. Even the ancient Egyptians believed that the stone could cure ailments ranging from nervous system disorders to blood diseases and lymph node abnormalities.
Powers of Pink Tourmaline
Many believe that pink tourmaline helps emotional and mental health and well-being. The stone is representative of love, empathy and humanity. Of all the tourmaline stones, pink emits the most intense amount of love. It is believed to gently remove emotional pain and mitigate disturbing and negative emotions. Pink tourmaline is also thought to guide those experiencing anxiety and panic attacks to emotionally safe havens.
