The facts
What tourmaline (Elbaite) actually is
The species behind tourmaline (Elbaite) is elbaite (tourmaline supergroup), Na(Li₁.₅Al₁.₅)Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₃(OH); it forms in the trigonal system.
Fe, Mn, Cu, Ti and Cr in varying combination — the most chemically variable gem species in common use is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.619–1.644 and a specific gravity of about 3.01–3.11, with indistinct (poor {1011}); brittle with fractures perpendicular to c cleavage.
Where tourmaline (Elbaite) comes from
Commercial material comes from Elba, Italy (type locality), Pederneira and Cruzeiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Himalaya Mine, California, USA, Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan and Alto Ligonha, Mozambique.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How tourmaline (Elbaite) is treated
Heating to lighten dark green and blue stones is routine and undetectable. Irradiation to deepen pink and red is common and generally stable. Fracture-filling with resin or glass is widespread in heavily included Brazilian and Nigerian material and must be disclosed.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What tourmaline (Elbaite) is confused with
Watch for Peridot, Emerald, Chrome diopside, Andalusite and Glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.619–1.644 and specific gravity 3.01–3.11 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What tourmaline (Elbaite) is used for
The trades that buy tourmaline (Elbaite) are jewellery, mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and decorative objects. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 7–7.5; cleavage indistinct (poor {1011}); brittle with fractures perpendicular to c. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What tourmaline (Elbaite) costs
Expect roughly $20–500/ct for common colours, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is tourmaline (Elbaite) treated, and how?
Heating to lighten dark green and blue stones is routine and undetectable. Irradiation to deepen pink and red is common and generally stable. Fracture-filling with resin or glass is widespread in heavily included Brazilian and Nigerian material and must be disclosed.
Where does tourmaline (Elbaite) come from?
Elba, Italy (type locality), Pederneira and Cruzeiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Himalaya Mine, California, USA, Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan and Alto Ligonha, Mozambique. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is tourmaline (Elbaite) hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does tourmaline (Elbaite) cost?
Indicatively $20–500/ct for common colours. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is tourmaline (Elbaite) confused with?
Most often Peridot, Emerald, Chrome diopside, Andalusite and Glass. A refractive index of 1.619–1.644 and a specific gravity near 3.01–3.11 separate it quickly.
What is tourmaline (Elbaite) used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for tourmaline (elbaite)?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about tourmaline (elbaite)