BLACK TOURMALINE

pronunciation – Black Tourmaline – “black torr-muh-leen”

Often considered the #1 grounding and protection stone, Black Tourmaline is perfect for purifying negative energies. Also known as Schorl, this piezoelectric crystal is often employed in scrying and ritual work due to its rich spiritual meaning. Read on to learn more about Black Tourmaline!

SPIRITUAL HEALING PROPERTIES OF BLACK TOURMALINE

One of the most common crystals employed in spiritual practices, Black Tourmaline provides excellent energetic protection and is highly recommended for anyone exposed to uncomfortable environments. It deters negative energy and cleanses the auric field. This stone further transmutes negativity within the environment and purifies it so that it cannot easily linger.

Anyone who practices ritual work such as scrying can also benefit from Black Tourmaline. When placed in a ring of small stones it can serve as a protection circle. Practitioners have also traditionally utilized this stone to discern the root cause behind problems or to find greater direction.

Black Tourmaline grounds by fostering a connection between the spirit and the Earth. This makes it an excellent choice for meditation and other healing work. Those seeking to build their self-confidence and personal power can also benefit from working with this gemstone. By facilitating a more objective perspective of one’s circumstances, it empowers those who live or work in chaotic environments.

PHYSICAL HEALING PROPERTIES OF BLACK TOURMALINE

Black Tourmaline’s purifying properties extend to physical healing as well. It helps to bolster the immune system and ward against disease. This crystal additionally supports the endocrine system, bringing relief to afflictions within the bowels and colon and moving toxins such as heavy metals out of the body.

This supportive stone also aids those struggling with fear and anxiety. It helps mitigate panic attacks, soothes claustrophobia, and lessens environmental fears.

Black Tourmaline is said to provide pain relief, especially when associated with muscle pain, arthritis, and scar tissue. It can be employed in bringing alignment to the spinal column and in stimulating the body’s reflex points. This gem can even strengthen one’s sense of smell, ease motion sickness, and bring luster back to the nails and hair.

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BLACK TOURMALINE CRYSTAL CORRESPONDENCES

HEALING PROPERTIES	Protection, Grounding, Clearing, Purification, Retrograde
CHAKRAS	Root
ZODIAC SIGNS	Capricorn
PLANETARY RULERS	Earth
NUMBERS	4
TAROT	The Emperor
ELEMENTS	Earth
DEITIES	Kali, Manat, Aradia, Hecate, Hades
PAIRINGS	Selenite, Celestite, Black Kyanite, Onyx, Obsidian, Rainbow Fluorite

LORE & HISTORY

Black Tourmaline’s original name, Schorl, comes from 1400 A.D. Germany and was derived from the former name of the village of Saxony. The stone was discovered much earlier, however; a statue of Alexander the Great which utilized the stone has since been attributed to the second or third century B.C.

The word Tourmaline was derived from the Sinhalese word tormalli, a term applied generally to the various gems originating from the island of Sri Lanka. The mineral has since been found in abundance around the world.

Tiffany & Co. gemologist George F. Kunz popularized Tourmaline as a uniquely American gemstone in his writings about the Tourmaline deposits of Maine and California during the late 1800s. It found its biggest market, however, within China. The Chinese Dowager Empress Tz’u Hsi, fond of the stone’s colors, imported large shipments of San Diego County’s Pink and Red Tourmaline to be carved into jewelry and snuff bottles.

After the collapse of the Chinese government in 1912, the US Tourmaline trade fell into decline. Some mines shut down or greatly reduced their output, although some, such as the Stewart Lithia mine in Pala, continue to sporadically produce high-quality specimens.

HOW TO USE BLACK TOURMALINE

Black Tourmaline can be employed in a variety of ways for protection. However, because it so readily absorbs negative energy, this stone must be cleansed regularly in order to release the absorbed energy. Ensure that any pieces worn or placed in or around the home are paired with Selenite or are periodically cleansed; see the next section for easy cleansing methods.

On the Body: Wear or carry Black Tourmaline to ward against negative energy and to keep your own energy grounded.

Inside: Place in a meditation space to help with grounding.

Outside: Place on top of or near entryways to the home to discourage negativity from entering.

CLEANING AND CLEANSING BLACK TOURMALINE

Physical Cleaning: Clean Black Tourmaline with canned air to remove dust and debris. Black Tourmaline can also be cleaned with a mild soap or detergent and rinsed, or it can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Energetic Cleansing: There are numerous ways to energetically cleanse Black Tourmaline.

• Set on or next to Selenite or Satin Spar, or set in lavender.
• Use smoke from herb bundles or incense.
• Cleanse using the water method by running it under cool water with your fingers pointed toward the drain of the sink. Do this for about 30 seconds. Dry gently with a towel, and set out to dry completely.
• Charge under the full moonlight.

BLACK TOURMALINE TOXICITY AND POTENTIAL ALLERGENS

Tourmaline – Toxic or harmful stone. Contains aluminum.
“Contains aluminum.” (Hibiscus)
“Contains aluminum.” (Healing Crystals)

For more information and citations regarding toxic, poisonous, and otherwise dangerous crystals, visit our Toxic Crystals page!

GEM ELIXIRS

Black Tourmaline contains aluminum which renders it unsafe for use in gem elixirs made with the direct method. Only use the indirect method for creating a gem elixir with this stone.

OTHER NAMES FOR BLACK TOURMALINE

Common Names: Black Tourmaline, Schorl
Trade Names: N/A
Trademarked Names: N/A

GEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Almost 95% of Tourmaline is the Black or Schorl variety.  It is a basic sodium iron aluminum boron silicate mineral.   Tourmaline is a six-member ring cyclosilicate having a trigonal crystal system. It occurs as long, slender to thick prismatic and columnar crystals. Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides. Prism faces often have heavy vertical striations that produce a rounded triangular effect.

Tourmaline, like all hemimorphic crystals, is piezoelectric and often pyroelectric as well.  This mineral is usually found in Granite and Granite Pegmatite.  In addition to the trigonal form, it also grows in massive form as well as a form known as Haystack Tourmaline.

CHEMICAL FORMULA	NaFe2+3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4
SHAPE	Ditrigonal Pyramidal
CRYSTAL SYSTEM	Trigonal
HABIT	Acicular – Occurs as needle-like crystals. Prismatic – Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms. Striated – Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face.
COLOR	Black, Brownish black, Greenish black, Bluish black.
STREAK	Brown
LUSTER	Vitreous (Glassy)
DIAPHANEITY	Opaque
HARDNESS	7.5 Mohs
CLEAVAGE	{1011} Indistinct
FRACTURE	Brittle – Conchoidal – Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY	3.1 – 3.2 kg/cm3
REFRACTIVE INDEX	1.616 – 1.65
OPTICAL PROPERTIES	Uniaxial (-), e=1.633-1.64, w=1.66-1.672, bire=0.0270-0.0320.

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DISCLAIMER

Crystallography Gems, inc. and CrystallographyGems.com do not dispense medical advice nor prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for medical problems. Always seek the advice of your medical physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions that you might have about a medical condition.