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Gemstone Directory Tourmaline | Tourmaline |
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Another interesting fact is that an electrical charge can be induced in some tourmaline crystals and this effect has found many uses in pressure measuring equipment and other scientific applications. Tourmaline was subsequently used in the production of pressure sensitive gauges for submarine instrumentation and other war-time equipment. The pressure gauges that measured the power of the first atomic bomb blasts were made with slices of tourmaline. Tourmaline can be easily confused with many other gemstones and this has in the past caused much confusion. Many gemstones in the Russian crown jewels from the 17th Century once thought to be rubies are in fact tourmalines. In South America green tourmaline is still referred to as the 'brazilian emerald'. The exact quantity of green stones which were mined in the early days of the Portuguese colonization and sent to Portugal as emeralds will probably never really be known. Tourmaline was a prized gemstone throughout history. In particular the Dowager Empress of China who was the last Empress of China loved it so much that she bought enormous quantities when a new mine opened in California. It was used for carving and for fashioning toggles or buttons on the jackets worn by the royal court and by other wealthy individuals. Tourmaline is said by healers to enhance one's understanding, increase self-confidence and amplify one's psychic energies and aid concentration and communication. It is also believed to neutralize negative energies and dispel fear and grief. Tourmaline can also aid relaxation of both mind and body as well as being able to help with the treatment of many different conditions and diseases including anxiety, blood poisoning, arthritis and heart disease. Tourmaline has been found throughout history in Africa, the Ural Mountains of Russia and other European locations. Some of the most exciting finds have been in North and South America. Beautiful gemstones were discovered early in the 19th century in the United States and in 1972 a mine in Maine established itself as one of the largest finds on record ever. For a brief period it became a world source for superior quality red and green tourmaline. The first pink tourmaline was found in the 1860's in San Diego. Today the largest mines are in the Minas Gerais state of Brazil. It is also mined in Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Mozambique, Myanmar, Russia, Namibia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Tourmaline and opal are the birthstones for October. Tourmaline is also the anniversary gemstone for the 8th year of marriage. It is graded 7 to 7.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness. The following links offer further reading on tourmaline http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourmaline
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Tourmaline occurs in many colours and also in combinations of two or three different colours. The colours can be at different ends of the 
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