White Tourmaline Meaning

White tourmaline, also known as achroite tourmaline, is a colorless or transparent variety of tourmaline .  As a powerful gemstone with several meaningful properties and uses, let’s take a look at what this crystal can offer.

What is white tourmaline?

White tourmaline belongs to the tourmaline mineral family. It is also known as colorless or achroite tourmaline due to its transparent or white appearance. This gemstone is characterized by its ability to display no specific color and is highly valued for its unique properties and uses.

How is white tourmaline formed?

White tourmaline, much like other types of tourmaline, is formed through geological processes involving heat, pressure, and the presence of certain chemical elements. Tourmaline is a boron silicate mineral, and its formation occurs in various geological environments.

The formation of white tourmaline begins with the presence of specific minerals and elements in the Earth’s crust. Boron, aluminum, silicon, and other elements, for example, are all necessary for tourmaline formation and must be present in the right conditions.

One common formation process involves hydrothermal activity, where hot fluids rich in mineral content circulate through fractures in the Earth’s crust. These fluids carry dissolved minerals, including boron and other elements needed for tourmaline formation. As the hot fluids cool and the pressure changes, tourmaline crystals begin to precipitate and grow in the fractures and cavities of the surrounding rocks.

The specific conditions under which white tourmaline forms, such as the temperature, pressure, and chemical composition of the surrounding rocks and fluids, determine its properties, including its colorlessness.

White tourmaline meaning

Inspiration:  White tourmaline is thought to promote inspiration, happiness, and reduce fear, boosting self-confidence during challenging times.

Balance:  It can also balance yin-yang energies and connect one to the spiritual world.  Also, using tourmaline for crystal healing can help balance the chakras, cleanse auras, and stimulate the energy centers. After use, it’s essential to cleanse the crystal as it absorbs negative energy.

Attraction:  White tourmaline is particularly useful for attracting inspiration, understanding, and self-confidence while encouraging gentleness and compassion.  Additionally, white tourmaline is believed to attract opportunities crucial for success. It acts as a guiding stone, potentially helping you find the path to luck and achieve success at the earliest possible time. Once good luck is attained, it is said to open the way for even greater luck, creating a chain of success.

Calmness:  When meditating with this crystal, it brings emotional calmness and a sense of wholeness.

Protection:  It has been revered as a protective amulet against evil since ancient times, shielding its owner from negative energies. This stone’s ability to ward off evil has made it a sought-after guardian stone, highly valued for its protective qualities.

Creative thinking:  It is also known for breaking stereotypes and limiting beliefs, liberating you from conventional thinking. It encourages taking calculated risks and making unconventional choices that can lead to tremendous success.

Improve challenging situations:  Another valuable property is the potential ability to improve challenging situations. It may help you find solutions to escape adversity, preventing them from being trapped in negative cycles and guiding them towards a more ideal life.

White tourmaline properties

Color: As the name suggests, white tourmaline is colorless or appears transparent. It lacks any significant coloration, making it stand out from other colored tourmaline varieties.

Crystal System: White tourmaline crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system, forming prismatic crystals with three-sided cross-sections.

Hardness: On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, tourmaline scores 7 to 7.5. This makes it relatively hard and durable, making it suitable for jewelry.

Luster: White tourmaline typically displays a vitreous (glass-like) luster, giving it a brilliant shine when well-cut and polished.

Transparency: As a transparent variety of tourmaline, white tourmaline allows light to pass through it with minimal distortion.

Refractive Index: The refractive index of white tourmaline ranges from approximately 1.624 to 1.644, indicating how much light is bent or refracted as it passes through the gemstone.

Specific Gravity: The specific gravity of white tourmaline is around 3.0 to 3.2, which helps in distinguishing it from other colorless gemstones.

Cleavage: White tourmaline has poor to indistinct cleavage, meaning it tends to break along irregular surfaces rather than specific planes.

Pleochroism: White tourmaline is usually non-pleochroic, which means it does not display different colors when viewed from different angles.

Composition: White tourmaline is a boron silicate mineral with the chemical formula (Na, Ca)(Li, Al, Mg, Fe, Mn)_3(Al, Cr, Fe, V)_6(BO_3)_3Si_6O_18(OH, F)_4.

Where is white tourmaline found?

White tourmaline can be found throughout the world; however, it is essential to note that white tourmaline is relatively rare compared to other colors of tourmaline.

Some of the notable locations where white tourmaline has been found include Brazil, Afghanistan, Madagascar, California (USA), Nigeria and Mozambique.

The state of Minas Gerais, Brazil is particularly famous for producing tourmaline crystals, including colorless or white ones.  The same can be said for Afghanistan, as it’s known for its rich deposits of gem-quality white tourmalines.

Is white tourmaline rare?

White tourmaline is considered relatively rare compared to other colors of tourmaline, such as green and pink. However, this rarity is due to the specific geological conditions required for its formation, which may not be as prevalent as those for other tourmaline colors. As a result, finding high-quality gem-grade white tourmaline can be more challenging, and its availability in the market may be limited.

White tourmaline stone price

The price of white tourmaline stones can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the clarity, size, color, cut, origin and market demand.  And, due to its relative rarity, high-quality white tourmaline can be more expensive than other colors of tourmaline.  Loose pieces can cost about $75~ per carat whereas towers, crystal carvings, etc can retail for about $10 to $30.  Your results will vary.