Blue tourmaline, also referred to as indicolite tourmaline, is a beautiful deep blue crystal that’s rarer than other types of tourmaline, such as black and green, to name a few. The tourmaline family is a complex mix of aluminum borosilicates and various metals, forming in different colors: blue, green, red, pink, yellow, brown, black, or violet. Indicolite combines the French word ‘Indigo’ and the Greek word ‘lithos,’ which means stone, coined by a renowned Brazilian mineralogist in 1800.
Its popularity as a gemstone began in 1876 and has grown since, especially among metaphysical collectors and practitioners, due to its versatile energy properties.
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What is blue tourmaline?
Blue Tourmaline, also known as indicolite, is a variety of elbaite, one of the most common members of the tourmaline mineral group. It will range from deep indigo to a neon light and bluish-green. These crystals will typically grow in prismatic shapes, often with a striated texture that runs parallel to the length of the crystal.
It’s often found in igneous and metamorphic rock veins and granite pegmatites and will display different lighting conditions due to a phenomenon called pleochroism.
Blue tourmaline meaning
Balance: By healers, it’s known to be an excellent tool for finding personal balance, harmonizing the yin and yang within yourself, and potentially bringing your brain’s right and left hemispheres into balance.
Clear communication: It’s said to help with clear communication, all while encouraging open-mindedness and fostering tolerance towards others. It’s even said to activate new ideas and increase perceptions of a higher reality. Overall, it promotes more profound levels of communication and assists in expressing your truth.
Passion: This crystal may increase your dedication and passion for work, making it suitable for anyone looking for that extra boost at work.
Peace: It’s also a crystal often associated with peace and spirituality, promoting deep meditation and emotional healing. It is known for its color-changing shades of blues and indigo, akin to the depths of a calm sea. It is a reason it’s an excellent stone for meditation, as it promotes peace and tranquility.
Restful sleep: Blue tourmaline promotes restful sleep and vivid dreams when placed under a pillow or nightstand.
Protection: Due to its pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties, it may protect against electric smog and other electrical pollution.
Blue tourmaline chakra
Blue tourmaline is said to resonate with the throat and third eye chakras.
The throat chakra, your 5th chakra, is said to be the voice of your body, acting as a pressure valve that allows the energy from other chakras to be expressed. When it’s balanced, it allows for the expression of your thoughts and feelings. It also aids in the clear communication of ideas, beliefs, and emotions.
The third eye, charka, your 6th chakra, is the center of your perception, which is said to direct your sight and awareness. When this chakra is in balance, your thoughts are said to be healthy and vibrant. It will open you up to new ideas and visions of the future.
Blue tourmaline price per carat
The price per carat will vary on many factors, and this can be said about any gemstone. These factors include quality, color, clarity, cut, size, market conditions, and the source of the gem.
The range will generally vary from as little as $100 per carat to as much as $1,000. However, rarer pieces like Paraiba Tourmaline can be much more than this, sometimes in the thousands.
It’s important to note that these are just estimates, and prices can vary widely.
Why is blue tourmaline so expensive?
Blue tourmaline is very expensive compared to other tourmaline because of a few factors. This includes the rarity, quality as well as souring process.
For example, if it’s a pure or vibrant shade, this will be considered rare compared to other colors. Paraiba tourmaline, the most valuable variety, is exceptionally rare due to its unique neon blue color caused by copper in its structure.
The quality, like other any other crystal, can increase the value. For instance, a gemstone with good clarity and rich color is highly sought after, which drives up its price. In this case, the gem’s pleochroic nature, which can exhibit different color shades when viewed from different angles, adds to its allure and overall value.
Lastly, the mining process is labor intensive and costly process. Plus, let’s remember that they are sourced throughout various parts of the world, adding to the exclusivity and associated costs.
Where is blue tourmaline found?
High-quality blue tourmaline gemstones are found throughout the world, including Brazil, Nigeria, the United States (Maine & California), Namibia, and Madagascar. The most valuable variety, however, which is known as Paraiba Tourmaline, is known for its bright, neon indigo blue color and comes from Paraiba, Brazil.
Is blue tourmaline rare?
Even though tourmaline can be found worldwide, finer specimens are considered to be rare and potentially expensive. High-quality gemstones with great clarity and rich color are pretty costly, with the Paraiba variety from Brazil being the most valuable—the bright neon indigo-blue color results from trace amounts of copper in their atomic structure.
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