Name: tourmaline (black variety) Chemical Formula: Na(Mg,Fe)3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH,F)4 Group Classification: Cyclo-silicate (ring structure); very strong, elongated / striated crystals General Info: A complex borosilicate, tourmaline colors vary greatly but the focus of this post is on black tourmaline specifically. Can hold an electric charge in response to mechanical stress (piezoelectric) or heat (pyroelectric). Found in igneous rocks, and more commonly within metamorphic rocks. Also sometimes called schorl. Identifying Properties:
Occurrence: Widespread. In particular, California, Maine, Brazil, Burma, Russia, and Mexico. Typical Uses: electrical products, water treatment, abrasives, nuclear reactors, transistors, solar cells, and as an ore of boron for things like silliputty and pyrex, prevents breakage. Metaphysical Uses:
I got a few pieces of black tourmaline for my birthday this year because I have become obsessed with it. I think it's my new favorite mineral! I've also been using Ally's HEAL Earth Oil (which has reiki charged quartz and black tourmaline crystals inside) pretty religiously. I put that shit on everything.
One of the pieces I was gifted for my birthday was from my younger sister. It was a tiny piece of tourmalated quartz that she had initially bought for herself but gave to me because I couldn't keep my hands off of it. About a week or so ago, I dropped it and it broke in two. I was ridiculously upset about that. I told her what happened and some of the things that I had read that it could mean. I landed on the idea that it meant I just needed two pieces instead of one. But then this realization hit us both at the same time. It broke because the stone was meant for both of us. It had even broke in such a way that each half ended up having one line of tourmaline in it. Just one of those weird things that happens that makes you say woahhh. This piece was also bought on the same trip that a medium approached us and told us that she and I are "the same."
5 Comments
ginger
9/17/2013 01:10:35 pm
it's crazy! was an oh shit moment for sure. thanks megan! <3
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Ally
9/17/2013 05:24:58 pm
YAY! I am so glad you love the oil!! I love black tourmaline. I should send you some! I really wish you lived closer so you could help me identify this massive load of crystals I still have. I have a giant container of what I think are green tourmaline? But theyre almost black with green shine in the sun. Same shape as tourmaline but theyre all short no varying lengths which is odd. There is so much black tourmaline where I go rockhounding for quartz but its so hard to get out without breaking it. I have only some small bits I managed to extract. DUUUUDEEEE I wanna make you a special tourmaline spray! I am going to email you soon...I am updating all my shops and its so time consuming! Oh and that story about the stone breaking in half is so cute! I gave my little cousin one of those "love stones" the geodes that are sawed in half and she was so excited. haha, a best friend stone! :)
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ginger
9/18/2013 04:19:57 pm
girl, I wish I lived over there too! god I would love to mine tourmaline myself that would be bananas... tourmaline spray sounds like heaven in a bottle! hahaha can't wait to see your updated shops!!
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I love these posts Ginger, and appreciate you working so hard on them. You are such a wealth of information girl. I have been swooning of black tourmaline lately, and I really need to get myself a piece.
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