mineral
Tourmalinated Quartz / Tourmaline in Matrix
Silicate mineral group (Schorl / Quartz)
Hardness of 7.0 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, black to dark brown color, vitreous to sub-metallic luster, hexagonal crystal system, uneven fracture, specific gravity around 2.65 to 3.2.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7.0 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, black to dark brown color, vitreous to sub-metallic luster, hexagonal crystal system, uneven fracture, specific gravity around 2.65 to 3.2.
Formation & geological history
Formed in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins where boron-rich fluids interact with cooling magma and surrounding host rocks.
Uses & applications
Used in gemstone jewelry, metaphysical healing collections, decorative items, and scientific equipment due to its piezoelectric properties.
Geological facts
Tourmaline has one of the widest color ranges of any mineral group in the natural world, and black tourmaline (schorl) is especially prized for its purported shielding properties.
Field identification & locations
Easily identifiable by its striated prismatic crystal habit, dark color, and high hardness. Commonly sourced from Brazil, Madagascar, and the United States.
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