Green Tourmaline is the term used for crystals and gemstones belonging to the cyclosilicate tourmaline family. Tourmaline is a group of closely related minerals rather than a single species. Green Tourmaline colors have a wide range, from light green, to deep chrome green, bluish-green, dark inky green and every possible shade between. Most Green Tourmaline’s belong to the Elbaite species, but the rare Chrome Tourmaline is classified as Dravite. It’s saturated forest green color is caused by traces of chromium in its atomic structure. The Elbaite species of Green Tourmaline receives its green color from trace amounts of copper. The Elbaite variety of Green Tourmaline is called Verdelite.

Green Tourmaline have a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 Mohs, a vitreous luster and range from perfectly transparent to opaque. Green Tourmaline belongs to the trigonal crystal system and usually forms in prismatic crystals with a trigonal cross section. Tourmaline is  one of few gem quality minerals that forms in the trigonal crystal system. Like other varieties, Green Tourmaline has pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties. Simply by heating, or rubbing the stone it produces an electric polarization within the crystal. Green Tourmaline often forms in bi or tricolor crystals in the Elbaite species. Green and blue bicolor crystals are not uncommon, as well as the treasured Watermelon Tourmaline variety of Elbaite which are a bicolor variety with green crystal banding on the outside and pink color centers at the center of the crystal.

Green Tourmaline can be quite valuable and has been recently experiencing a new surge in popularity leading to rising prices. Beautiful Green Tourmaline crystals are found in many localities throughout the world including Minas Gerais and Bahia Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, Pakistan and the USA.

The family of closely related mineral species called Tourmaline is the most dynamic of all gemstones. From solid black crystals like Schorl, to incredibly transparent crystals, Tourmaline literally forms in every color shade one could imagine. Not only does it dynamically form in every possible color shade, it also often forms in bicolor, tricolor crystals as well in mosaic crystal patterns which are best exhibited after slicing the crystals into cross-section plates.  This dynamic gemstone family has a long legacy throughout many ancient cultures, and because of its myriad of color shades, it has also been confused with other gems in the past. Stunning Green Tourmalines were mistakenly identified as Emerald, Rubellite Pink Tourmalines were thought to be Rubies, and the list goes on. The modern name for the mineral group Tourmaline, comes from the Sinhalese words ‘tura’ and ‘mali’, meaning stone of many colors.

According to the ancient Egyptians Tourmaline passed through a rainbow on its journey from the sun, taking on all the colors of the rainbow before finding its resting place deep within the earth.

For many centuries, the piezoelectric properties of Tourmaline was well recognized. In the 1700’s Dutch sailors were the first tradesmen to bring Tourmalines to Europe’s shores from Sri Lanka and the called the stone ‘Aschetrekker’, meaning ‘ash pullers. The electric polarization within Tourmaline crystals made them a perfect tool to pull the ash from their tobacco pipes when cleaning them. Tourmaline rose to popularity in China, due to the last empress Tzu Hsi love of the stone. She had a huge collection of fine jewelry made with Tourmaline gemstones.

It wasn’t until the late 20th century that Tourmaline began to see a huge rise in popularity within the gem world. New discoveries of Rubellite, Green Tourmaline and Indicolite specimens in Brazil led to a new found obsession with this dynamic gem family. Later, important deposits of Tourmaline were discovered in Namibia, Madagascar and older localities such as those in Maine and California found larger demand in the market place. Today, Tourmaline is incredibly popular and the value of quality gemstones continues to rise.