Black Tourmaline Stone

History of Black Tourmaline Stone

Arriving on French territory in 1703, black tourmaline stone was first documented by Buffon in 1759. During this period, emperors and kings had vast quantities of black tourmaline. From the 1800s onwards, black tourmaline stone was widely used and exploited in jewellery. Its peak was under the Chinese Empire, and in particular, under Empress Tzu Hsi from 1860 to 1908. A true enthusiast, she imported vast quantities of tourmaline sourced from American deposits. She also offered pink tourmaline to her loved ones. Following her death in 1911, extraction within these deposits was ceased and pink tourmaline was no longer exported.

Later in Brazil, black and coloured tourmaline stone experienced a boom. A new deposit was found in Minas Gerais along with many stones of great rarity such as rubellite and Paraiba. Today, black tourmaline is primarily used in luxury jewellery, especially in the making of necklaces, bracelets or pendants. Due to their rarity, the many varieties of tourmaline benefit from an esteemed reputation on the luxury market.

Origin and Composition of Black Tourmaline Stone

From its etymology ‘Turamali’ in Sinhalese, tourmaline means ‘stones of different colours’. Although black tourmaline stone is found much more frequently, the Sinhalese name includes all coloured stones that they could not recognise or designate. Subsequently, the term gradually changed to ‘tourmaline’, today representing all colour varieties.

Regularly extracted from granitic pegmatites, black tourmaline stone has a rather rich chemical composition. This semiprecious stone belongs to the group of complex silicates of magnesium, alkali and aluminium borosilicates with iron. Often, tourmaline is found in the form of raw sticks. It is not uncommon to find black tourmaline with cracks that are at times undulating but also perpendicular. It is very hard, between 7 and 7.5.

As the name suggests, tourmaline can be found in almost any colour. Many mines are exploited for the making of jewellery. In manufacturing, black tourmaline stone is used to prevent static electricity generated by hair straighteners as well as to dye brass parts.

The primary deposits of black tourmaline stone are in Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Myanmar, Brazil, the United States, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rhodesia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand.

Litho Therapeutic Properties of Black Tourmaline Stone

Black tourmaline stone is a very powerful protective stone that is known for its strong ability to store negative energies whilst eliminating and grounding them. Black tourmaline is a key stone in litho therapy. During each consultation, lithotherapists use this stone to reconnect the patient to the earth, while anchoring them through their roots. This stone is applied at the root chakra, or works directly on the feet.

On contact with your skin, black tourmaline stone will greatly raise your vibration. Many lithotherapists recommend it for reducing hyperactivity through its lightness. It can be worn in different forms as jewellery. It is quite possible to carry a small black tourmaline stone in your trouser pockets, jacket or handbag.

If you choose to place black tourmaline stone in your living room for example, you will feel the environment regain its balance, increasing its the vibrational rate. This stone also absorbs electrostatic energies and thus protects against all types of electrical appliances. Living spaces are rebalanced and re-harmonised thanks to black tourmaline. This stone also grounds by absorbing negative energies and directing them to the ground. The stone also has similar effects on the body, harmonising the aura. If it is accompanied by a labradorite stone, it will protect the therapist from the patient’s energies.