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tourmaline
[ toor-muh-lin, -leen ]
noun
- any of a group of silicate minerals of complex composition, containing boron, aluminum, etc., usually black but having various colored, transparent varieties used as gems.
tourmaline
/ ˌtʊəməˈlɪnɪk; ˈtʊəməˌliːn /
noun
- any of a group of hard glassy minerals of variable colour consisting of complex borosilicates of aluminium with quantities of lithium, sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium in hexagonal crystalline form: used in optical and electrical equipment and in jewellery
tourmaline
/ tr′mə-lĭn,-lēn′ /
- Any of several minerals having the general chemical formula (Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Al,Li) 3 Al 6 (BO 3 ) 3 Si 6 O 18 (OH) 4 . Tourmaline occurs in many different translucent colors, usually in crystals shaped like 3-, 6-, or 9-sided prisms. It occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks, especially in pegmatites.
Derived Forms
- tourmalinic, adjective
Other Words From
- tour·ma·lin·ic [t, oo, r-m, uh, -, lin, -ik], adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of tourmaline1
Word History and Origins
Origin of tourmaline1
Example Sentences
Then we each get a piece of black tourmaline, considered a so-called “grounding stone” that is said to offer protection.
The crown glitters with stones including tourmalines, white and yellow topazes, rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, peridot, zircons, spinel and aquamarines.
It’s set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines.
Weighing five pounds, with a velvet cap and band of ermine fur, the crown includes a dazzling array of rubies, amethysts, sapphires, topazes, tourmalines and garnet.
Campbell Bridges had a long relationship with the Smithsonian that began in 1967, when he traded some of his tanzanite specimens to the museum for some of its tourmaline collection, Bruce Bridges said.
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More About Tourmaline
What does tourmaline mean?
Tourmaline is a mineral that is commonly black but also has transparent, colored varieties considered gemstones, including in pink and green.
Tourmaline varies in composition and is typically categorized into three types: iron tourmaline (a black variety, also called schorl), magnesium tourmaline (a brown variety, also called dravite), and alkali tourmaline.
As a gemstone, tourmaline is classified as semiprecious, a label given to gemstones that are not as valuable as those considered precious. Tourmaline is generally inexpensive due to its abundance, but certain varieties are more expensive, such as those from Paraiba, Brazil, which are valued for their color saturation.
Tourmaline is one of the birthstones for the month of October. It is associated with the zodiac signs Libra and Scorpio. It is also the gem designated for an eighth wedding anniversary.
Tourmaline has the ability to become electrically charged when heated and is also used in electrical equipment.
Tourmaline can also be spelled tourmalin and turmaline.
Example: Many people mistake the red tourmaline stone in my ring for a ruby.
Where does tourmaline come from?
The first records of the word tourmaline come from the late 1700s. It ultimately comes from the Sinhalese word tōramalliya, meaning “carnelian” (another type of gemstone).
Tourmaline is a silicate mineral that occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks, especially in pegmatites. They often grow in environments that are rich in liquids. There are many different elements that can appear in tourmaline that affect the color of the stone, including lithium, sodium, iron, and magnesium.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to tourmaline?
- tourmalin (alternate spelling)
- turmaline (alternate spelling)
- tourmalinic (adjective)
What are some synonyms for tourmaline?
What are some words that often get used in discussing tourmaline?
How is tourmaline used in real life?
Tourmaline is perhaps best known as one of the birthstones for October.
As a tourmaline enthusiast, I am happy to see black triangle (perpendicular) and tabular (parallel to c axis) tourmaline crystals in leucogranite which is cut by a greenish tourmaline vein. Note a graphic texture of intergrown quartz and K-feldspar in the right #Delamerian pic.twitter.com/5jBFh6wj5t
— Wei Hong (@WeiHong86) March 5, 2021
umm so..my black tourmaline stone broke,, out of nowhere,,
— bhav🐝☁️ (@urqueersagy) September 10, 2021
but rly he gave me such a great day, woke me up with cake and balloons in the morning and then took me on a cruise for dinner in the evening, he gave me some small gifts and a necklace with my favourite birthstone tourmaline on it, all in all i had an amazing birthday 🥺💓
— Mikan 🍊 (@mikantheorange) October 8, 2020
Try using tourmaline!
True or False?
Tourmaline can be electrically charged.
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