Black Tourmaline in Quartz (Tourmalated Quartz) Sphere

Also known as Schorl, black tourmaline is made up of Sodium Iron Aluminum Borate Silicate.  It is black in color and the black variety of tourmaline accounts for 95% of all tourmalines in nature. The mineral Schorl is named after the village in Saxony Germany known as Zschorlau. The name tourmaline derives from the language Sinhalese and refers to red-brownish stones called carnelian.  Black varieties of tourmaline can be found all over the world but is mostly mined in Brazil and many parts of Africa.

History

Black Tourmaline has been used in many cultures mostly for the protective properties of the stone.  The ancient Egyptians believed that the mineral has the ability to stave off negative energies and create stability and equilibrium.  Native American tribes wore the stones to connect to earth and protect the wearer from danger.  In the 19th Century, it was used to treat a variety of ailments including acne, eczema and arthritis.  The ability to heal pain was so popular that the Black Tourmaline was also used by doctors.  

Metaphysical Properties

• Dispels Negative Energies

• Increase Physical Vitality

• Grounds Energy

• Disperses Tension and Stress

• Clears Negative Thoughts

• Promotes Calm, Laid-Back Attitude

• Heightens Clear Rational Behaviors

• Encourages Positive Attitude

• Stimulates Altruism

• Sharpens Mental Focus

• Increases Alertness 

Physical Healing

• Defends Against Debilitating Disease

• Strengthens the Immune System

• Treats Dyslexia and Arthritis

• Provide Pain Relief

• Realigns the Spinal Column

• Supports Weight Loss and Reduces Bloating

• Worn Around the Neck, It Will Protect Against Electronics, Electromagnetic Smog and Radiation

• Cleanses the Body from Radiation and Pollutants

• Improves Blood Circulation 

Chakras

• Root

 Quartz is a hard crystalline mineral composed of silica and is considered the most powerful healing and energy amplifiers on the planet.  Derived from the German word, Quarz, it is also the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s crust, only behind feldspar. China, Japan and Russia are the world’s primary producers of quartz, but the mineral can be found and is produced in all areas of the world.  There are many different varieties and colors of quartz with distinct energies and special healing properties for each.    

History

Quartz has been a central figure in just about all ancient cultures and civilizations.  The earliest talismans of the stone date back to 75,000 B.C.  Quartz was the most common material used for the mystical substance called maban in Australian Aboriginal Mythology.  This substance is what was believed to give the Shaman’s their magical powers.  The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the crystals, which the Greeks called Krystallos, were pieces of frozen ice that were so hard that they would not melt.  The Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, was certain that the mineral was ice, but also realized that the quartz revealed prisms of light.  In Europe and the Middle East, quartz was the most common gemstone used for jewelry and hardstone carving. In many cultures today, it is still used for spiritual healing and cultural rituals but due to its abundance, it has also been more commercially used for art, glass making, countertops and home decoration, frequency vibration in crystal oscillators, lasers, microscopes, scientific instruments and a variety of electronic devices. 

Metaphysical Properties

• Supports Overall Well Being

• Brings Body into Balance

• Absorbs, Stores, Releases, Unblocks and Regulates Energy 

• Holding Quartz Will Double Your Bio-Magnetic Field

• Harmonizes and Stabilizes Your Environment

• Helpful In Romantic Relationships

• Increases Spiritual Energy to Highest Possible Level

• Enhances Physic Ability

• Attunes Individual to Their Spiritual Purpose

• Amplifies Communication with Spirit Guides

• Delivers Self-Knowledge to Overcome Personal Limits We Set on Ourselves

• Provides Focus for Goals at Hand

• Liberates Buried Memories to Your Conscious Awareness

• Revitalizes Dormant Abilities

• Encourages Clarity, Improves Perception and Understanding then Helps with Problem Solving

• Magnifies Meditation Focus So You Can Relieve Your Emotional Distress

• Harmonizes all Chakras and Energy Pathways 

Physical Healing

• Stimulates the Nervous System

• Cleanses And Enhances the Organs

• Effective To Fight Against Chronic Fatigue, Arthritis, Bone Injuries, Depression, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia and Intestinal Issues

• Revitalizes Parts of The Body That Have Lost Feeling, Are Cold, Experience Numbness or Have Become Paralyzed

• Reduces Fever and Alleviates Pain, Swelling and Nausea

• Master Healer Used to Treat Any Condition

Chakras

• Crown

 Tourmalated quartz is a clear quartz that has grown along together with tourmaline.  The translucence of the quartz shows the black tourmaline needles coursing through the stone showing off its beauty and unique character.    This crystal is also commonly called tourmalinated quartz or tourmaline quartz.  Although this quartz has a special, distinguishable charm, it is very common in the mineral world.  The opacity can range from completely clear to  mostly opaque, but the tourmaline is always on display.  Tourmalated quartz can be found anywhere in the world and is mined from deep within the earth to shallow pits, but the more stunning varieties are produced in Brazil.    

History

There is not a ton of documented history written about tourmalated quartz nor are there many legendary tales surrounding the stone like you might find with many other crystals in the mineral world.  The first documented use of tourmalated quartz was over two million years ago in Ethiopia.  The crystal was used  in tool making.  Today, the quartz is used to create jewelry, pieces of art and is used for the spiritual, emotional, and physical healing powers that are dually provided by the quartz crystal and tourmaline minerals that both exist with the crystal.  

Metaphysical Properties

• Great for Grounding

• Deflects Harmful Environmental Influences

• Harmonizes Energy and Spiritual Polarities

• Transfers Negative Energies into Positive Energies Creating Better Focus

• Effective in Open Mind for Problem Solving

• Alleviates Self Sabotage

• Eliminates Stagnate Patterns

• Melts Emotions Blockages Created by Overactive Mind

• Intensifies Awareness for Clear Intentions

• Powerful Conductor of Energies

• Harmonizes the Meridians, the Subtle Bodies and Chakras

Physical Healing

• Neutralizes Electromagnetic Frequencies and Radiation

• Treats Disorders of the Digestive Tract

• Strengthen Skeletal System

• Realigns the Spine and Vein Structure

• Helps with Cellular Regeneration

• Stimulates the Immune System

• Powerful General Detoxifier 

Chakras

• Third Eye

• Root

 Tourmaline, often called “The Receptive Stone” is an absolutely brilliant crystal.  Its charm comes from its wide range of radiant colors and healing properties, and it can be found in various locations on the globe.  Legend states tourmaline was created from the mesmerizing energies of the rainbow, offering joy, generosity, and illumination.  Its colors vary from black, brown, green, pink, red, yellow, blue, watermelon and blue green.  Its color variation spans more than almost any other gemstone.  Tourmaline can be shiny, opaque, or transparent with a vitreous luster and is extremely durable with a 7-7.5 rating on the Mohs scale.  This crystal is a master in its mental healing capacity.  It allows us to recognize when it is safe to love and tells us when it is time to release past sorrows and trauma.  When dealing with others, its energies allow us to act with compassion, wisdom, flexibility, and mindfulness.  Tourmaline is an excellent stone for the broken hearted; it cleanses, purifies, and transforms any negative thoughts and emotions into positive ones.  In times of turmoil, tourmaline will help to point out the culprit, find solutions to issues, and enlighten the path to take moving forward.  While different colors of tourmaline have their own unique set of healing properties, in addition to those above, tourmaline works with all the chakras from the root to the crown.  Tourmaline balances the meridians of the body and clears the aura.  It is a wonderful stone for inner healing, encouraging universal love at every turn as it dispels disruptive feelings and emotions.  If you are looking to truly understand yourself and others, live with compassion and empathy, tourmaline is a crystal you want to have by your side. 

History

Known for centuries as “schorl” the name tourmaline didn’t come about until 1703.  Early history of the crystal shows the name “schorl” was in use early before the name tourmaline.  The namesake “schorl” was given by the town in Germany, Zschorlau.  This village had a nearby mine where black tourmaline was found.  The name tourmaline originates from the Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) words “tura mali” meaning “unknown gemstone of mixed colors”.  In 1703, a specimen of the gem arrived in Amsterdam from Sri Lanka and at that point, it was realized to be a different stone.  Tourmaline is a crystalline silicate mineral group in which boron is compounded with a variety of other minerals including aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium.  Like feldspar, garnet and mica, tourmaline is not just one mineral, rather it is a group of closely related minerals.  It is also documented that green tourmaline was discovered in the 1500’s in Brazil by a Spanish conquistador, however, he confused it with the emerald at the time.  Tourmalines were also discovered by Dutch traders in the late 1600’s or early 1700’s, with the first discovery in the United States in 1822 in the state of Maine by Elijah Hamlin and Ezekial Holmes.  California’s first deposits were found in the late 1800’s.  Much of this tourmaline was shipped to China to be carved.  Soon after this, many Brazilian deposits of the crystal were discovered, and Brazil continues to be a top producer of some of the finest tourmalines.  Brazil still holds the record for the world’s largest Paraiba tourmaline weighing 191.87 carats.  American tourmaline gemstones spiked in popularity when minerologist George Kunz sold green tourmaline from Maine to Tiffany and Co. in 1876.  Tourmaline is highly coveted for jewelry making due to the gem’s durability, range of colors, and beauty.  The most common color is black while the bright blue green varieties with traces of copper (Paraiba), watermelon, chrome, and pink being the rarest varieties.  There is a good chance that tourmaline has a much richer history than documented because it is likely that the gem was confused with other gemstone varieties making historical references hard to come by.  Russian crown jewels from the 17th century contained various tourmalines.  William Shakespeare had a wonderful collection of tourmaline jewelry as he believed tourmaline aided him in overcoming writer’s block.  Writers of the Renaissance used tourmaline in their talismans for this same reason.  The last Empress of China, Dowager Tz’u-hsi, coveted pink tourmaline.  At her death, her head was laid on a pillow carved of pink tourmaline.

Tourmaline also possesses pyroelectric and piezoelectric capabilities.  The piezoelectric effect is the generation of an electric voltage upon application of mechanical stress, while pyroelectricity relates to the generation of electrical charge upon heating or rubbing.  Due to this unique property, it is used in pressure devices, in sonar apparatus, and in other gauges that detect and measure pressures.  Its demand increased during World War II as an increase of pressure gauges was needed for submarine sonar and other needed equipment that was instrumental.  Tourmaline crystals can often exhibit polarity, which means it has a different charge at either end of the crystal that creates natural magnetism. 

Metaphysical Properties  

·         Grounds Spiritual Energy

·         Clears and Balances the Chakras

·         Creates a Protective Shield Around the Body

·         Protects During Rituals and Spiritual Practices

·         Good for Use When Scrying

·         Clears the Aura

·         Attracts Inspiration, Compassion, Tolerance, and Prosperity

·         Encourages Universal and Self-Love

·         Disperses Emotional Pain and Trauma

·         Balances the Hemispheres of the Brain

·         Illuminates Solutions to a Problem

·         Balances the Body’s Meridians

·         Acts as a Natural Insecticide for Plants and Gardens

·         Encourages Growth of Crops

·         Aids in Understanding of the Self and Others

·         Promotes Self-Confidence

·         Diminishes Fear

·         Transmutes Negative Thought Patterns to Positive Ones

·         Enhances Energy Flow

·         Dissolves Disruptive Feelings

·         Inspires Creativity

Physical Healing

·         Treats Paranoia

·         Helps Overcome Dyslexia

·         Releases Tension

·         Balances Male and Female Energies

·         Strengthens Stamina and Energizes

·         Heals the Physical Heart

·         Detoxifies the Body

·         Aids the Immune System and Nervous System

·         Strengthens Bones and Teeth

·         Relieves Heartburn, Headaches, and Muscle Pain

In addition to the properties listed above, the following colors possess these additional attributes:

Blue Tourmaline 

·         Encourages Spiritual Freedom and Self-Expression

·         Aids in Psychic Awareness

·         Promotes Visions

·         Encourages Fidelity and Ethical Behaviors

·         Brings Blocked Feelings to the Surface to be Healed and Dissipated

·         Assists in Developing an Inner-Sense of Responsibility

·         Promotes Living in Harmony with the Environment

·         Creates Drive to Achieve Goals and Aspirations

·         Helpful for Insomnia

Clear Tourmaline 

·         Counters Anger and Resentment

·         Relieves Stressful Thoughts

·         Calms and Balances the Mind

·         Aids in Connection to the Inner-Self

·         Clears Insecurities

Brown Tourmaline 

·         Grounding

·         Aligns the Etheric Body

·         Encourages Community Spirit

·         Comforts in Large Groups of People

·         Heals Dysfunctional Family Relationships

·         Strengthens Empathy 

Green Tourmaline 

·         Helpful for Chronic Fatigue

·         Aids in Visualization

·         Promotes Tenderness

·         Creates Openness and Patience

·         Attracts Prosperity and Abundance

·         Overcomes Problems with Father Figures

·         Quiets the Mind

Purple Tourmaline 

·         Heals the Heart

·         Produces Loving Consciousness

·         Connects Root and Heart Chakras

·         Increases Devotion

·         Promotes Intuition and Stimulates the Pineal Gland

·         Strips Away Illusions

·         Useful for Past-Life Healing

·         Reduces Depression and Releases Obsessive Thoughts

Red Tourmaline 

·         Promotes Understanding of Love

·         Increases Sociability and Extroversion

·         Instills Compassion and Devotion

·         Encourages Tactfulness and Flexibility

·         Balances Extreme Aggression

·         Increases Stamina and Endurance

·         Provides Joy, Openness, and Emotional Stability

·         Fosters Inner Strength and Wisdom

·         Unites Heart and Body in Love and Passion

Pink Tourmaline 

·         Aphrodisiac that Attracts Love

·         Inspires Trust in Love

·         Assists in Gaining Self-Love

·         Disperses Emotional Pain and Old Destructive Feelings

·         Heals Inner-Chaos

·         Cleanses and Synthesizes Love with Spirituality

·         Promotes Humanitarianism

·         Fosters Listening and Understanding

·         Overcomes Anxiety

·         Attracts Absolute Love and Friendship

Yellow Tourmaline 

·         Enhances Personal Power

·         Opens up Spiritual Pathways

·         Benefits Intellectual Pursuits and Business Affairs 

For Black Tourmaline and Watermelon Tourmaline:  Full Detailed Descriptions are under “B” and “W” on the A-Z Page

Chakras

·         Third Eye (Blue)

·         Throat (Blue)

·         Sacral (Brown)

·         Root (Brown)

·         Heart (Pink, Purple, Green, Heart)

·         Solar Plexus (Yellow)

·         Crown (Clear) 

Proper Care 

To cleanse Tourmaline, use warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth to dry.  Tourmaline is an excellent stone for daily wear due to it being one of the more durable stones.  To charge, place in the full moonlight for a few hours, or place on or next to Selenite for spiritual cleansing and recharging.  You may also pair with clear quartz to give it an extra boost.  Avoid leaving colored tourmalines in the sunlight for prolonged periods of time, as this could fade the color.  However, tourmalines are durable, and are a great choice for daily wear.