GREEN TOURMALINE QUARTZ

GREEN TOURMALINE QUARTZ

A vibrant, gemmy, Green Tourmaline Quartz specimen.  Several beautiful Green Tourmaline crystals are visible inside the quartz, some of which is faceting quality.  It is rare to find specimens like this for sale, especially in this price range.  Add a beautiful gem crystal to your collection.

Location:
Auro Preto, Brazil.

Dimensions:
6cm x 5.5cm x 3cm, 123g.

Most people consider tourmaline to be a single mineral.  But in fact it is a group named for several different, but closely related minerals.  Members of the Tourmaline Group are favorites among mineral collectors.  Their rich and varied colors can captivate the eye.  Even the black opaque Tourmaline can shine nicely and produce sharp crystal forms. Tourmaline are cut as precious gems, carved into figurines, cut as cabochons, sliced into cross-sections and natural specimens are enthusiastically added to many a rock hound’s collection.
There are many unique properties of tourmaline. First they are piezoelectric which means that when a crystal is heated or compressed (or vibrated) a different electrical charge will form at opposite ends of the crystal (an electrical potential).  Conversely if an electrical potential is applied to the crystal, it will vibrate.  Secondly they are pleochroic which means that the crystal will look darker in color when viewed down the long axis of the crystal than when viewed from the side.  This property goes beyond the idea that the crystal is just thicker in that direction.  Even equally dimensioned crystals will demonstrate this trait.  This property can be used as an advantage by gem cutters who may wish to enhance a crystal’s pale color or weaken a strongly colored crystal.