Red Tourmaline

Red tourmaline is a richly colored variety of the lithium-rich tourmaline species elbaite. The most saturated red to raspberry-red stones are traditionally called rubellite, while lighter or pinker material may simply be called pink or red tourmaline.

Its color comes mainly from manganese, sometimes modified by natural irradiation. The finest reds rival ruby in saturation, which historically led to confusion and the trade name "ruby tourmaline."

Red tourmaline forms striated trigonal prisms and is frequently color-zoned, grading into pink, colorless, or even green within a single crystal.

Red tourmaline crystallizes in granitic pegmatites, coarse-grained igneous rocks rich in the rare elements lithium, manganese, and boron that build colorful elbaite tourmaline. As the pegmatite's residual fluids cool, gem-quality crystals grow in miarolitic cavities (pockets).

Manganese incorporated during growth produces the pink-to-red coloration. Major sources include Brazil (Minas Gerais), Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and California and Maine in the USA.

Durable weathered crystals also occur in alluvial gem gravels downstream from pegmatite outcrops.

Look for transparent red to raspberry crystals with a rounded triangular cross-section and lengthwise striations, the tourmaline signatures. Hardness is 7-7.5, luster vitreous, streak white.

Red tourmaline shows strong pleochroism, often appearing a different shade of red or near-colorless along the crystal axis. It typically has more inclusions and fractures than ruby and lacks ruby's much greater hardness (9) and density.

Distinguish from ruby, red spinel, and garnet by the trigonal crystal form, pronounced dichroism, and lower refractive index. Garnets are singly refractive and show no pleochroism.

Red tourmaline and rubellite are prized faceted gemstones used in rings, pendants, and earrings, valued for their vivid color and good hardness. The most intense, evenly colored, eye-clean stones command the highest prices.

Unlike many gems, fine rubellite holds its color well under artificial light, an asset over some pink stones. Slightly included material is still attractive and affordable.

Metaphysically, red and pink tourmaline are linked to the heart and emotional healing, though such claims are not scientifically supported.