Watermelon Tourmaline (no. R87)

Actual Piece

Measurements approximately

Length 1.5cm

Width 1.5cm 

Depth 1.2cm

Weight 3.3g

Watermelon tourmaline is know by its pinkish-red interior and green exterior, resembling a watermelon and has been found in Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar,  USA.

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Tourmaline is a complex aluminium borosilicate, its crystal pattern is hexagonal (trigonal) with prismatic crystals and striations running parallel to the main axis. Found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Brazil.

The Tourmaline crystal family are crystals of aluminium bore silicate which can also contain iron, lithium, manganese, potassium and sodium

A wide range of variations in colours, Tourmalines can be:-

Bi-colours - Elbaite

Black - Schorl

Blue - Indicolite with Electric Blue - Paraiba

Brown - Dravite

Green - Verdelite with Neon Green - Paraiba

Red or pink which is known as Rubellite 

Yellow, - Canary 

Shades of green and pink - Watermelon Tourmaline.