Tuesday Update – Tourmaline

FOR those who were able to visit us at the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery, or even if you had seen images online, the entrance foyer was a colourful feast for one’s eyes, of stunning gem crystals in state-of-the-art cabinets with the ability to position lighting at every conceivable angle.

Improvements in specimen display continue to evolve and even in the  two years since moving across from the museum sector I have witnessed amazing advancements.

Of the gem species Elbaite is perhaps the one with the most diversity in colour, but this in itself raises interesting questions over how names are applied.

For example, Emerald and Aquamarine are two easily recognizable names, and both represent just one colour each – green and blue respectively – but both are varieties of the mineral species Beryl. Therefore Beryl is the equivalent of Elbaite – an individual species which can occur in many colours. However, while Emerald and Aquamarine are well used varietal names, the usage of colour specific terms in Elbaite are seen less often – Rubellite for red, Indicolite for blue. Why might that be?

Well, if we take things a step further, then many collectors would be more familiar with the name Tourmaline, than even Elbaite. However, Tourmaline is not an individual mineral species name, but a group encompassing over 40 species. Some of those species are impossible to identify visually, meaning that collectors are forced into using the ‘catch-all’ term Tourmaline.

Ironically, as the science of mineralogy becomes more precise, so the average collector is forced into being more imprecise with terminology.

Perhaps then, mineral collectors should take a leaf out of the gemmologist’s book and name specimens more based on colour than chemistry. After all, a standard usage of Rubellite for any red coloured Tourmaline is surely less confusing than, “is it Elbaite, Fluor-elbaite, or even Vanadio-oxy-chromium-dravite” – yes such a name does exist!

The specimens highlighted today are a selection of wonderful new Tourmalines – mostly Elbaite. Hopefully our specimen labels are not too confusing. If so, my advice is just enjoy the crystals for what they are – nature’s wonders.

We are back to twice weekly updates, so look out for a newsletter on Friday when we will present to you one of my favourite mineral species – Pyromorphite. Have a great week.

Please note: Today's featured specimens are situated at both our US and UK showrooms.