How to Identify Pink Tourmaline

A tourmaline crystal.

Tourmaline forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is found all over North and South America. Pink, or rubellite, tourmaline, along with green, blue, orange, purple and many other shades, is part of the lithium-rich elbaite species. There are several characteristics that help identify pink tourmaline.

Instructions

1. Look for minerals formed in long or short columnar crystals of varying thickness.

2. Look for lengthwise striations along the crystal column.

3. Identify a three-sided prism. A cross section of a tourmaline crystal resembles a rounded triangle.

4. Look for uneven fracture lines. Tourmaline has poor cleavage and won't break in clean, straight lines.

Tips & Warnings

• According to gemologist Robert James, in the U.S., tourmaline is classified as a subsection of the hexagonal crystal system, but in Europe, it is individually classified as trigonal. You may find a tourmaline crystal that is only partially pink. Don't discount it, a multicolored stone is a valuable find.

References

• Gemologist Robert James