Paraíba Tourmaline (Cuprian Elbaite)
Paraíba Tourmaline Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Paraíba Tourmaline Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Paraíba Tourmaline gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.15 cts
Heaviest:1.77 cts
Average:0.96 cts
Total photos:2
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| General Information | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A variety or type of: | Copper-bearing Elbaite, which is a variety of Elbaite, which is a variety of Tourmaline | ||||||
| Paraíba Tourmaline Treatments | |||||||
| Color is often improved or modified by heat-treatment, typically purplish-violet to intense blue-green - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 5 | |||||||
| Paraíba Tourmaline Simulants | |||||||
| Beware of imitations such as synthetic hydrothermal beryl, apatite and assembled gems - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 5 | |||||||
| Physical Properties of Paraíba Tourmaline | |||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 7 to 7.5, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.04 to 3.13, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||
| Optical Properties of Paraíba Tourmaline | |||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.618 to 1.643, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||
| Birefringence | 0.018 to 0.021, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||
| Colour | |||||||
| Colour (General) | Intense "electrical" colors: typically mint-green to sky-blue, sapphire-blue, violet to purplish, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||
| Causes of Colour | Traces of copperLapidary Journal (1999) | ||||||
| Crystallography of Paraíba Tourmaline | |||||||
| Crystal System | Trigonal, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||
| Further Information | |||||||
| Mineral information: | Paraíba Tourmaline information at mindat.org | ||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||
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