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Gem tourmaline comes from Ceylon, from Madagascar, from the Ural Mountains, from Brazil, from Maine, from Connecticut, and from California.
The Ceylon tourmalines are mostly yellow or yellowish-green, sometimes fine olive-green. Those from the Urals may be pink, blue or green. Brazilian tourmalines are usually green, but sometimes red. In fact in many localities several colors of tourmaline are usually found together and it may be that a single crystal will be green in most of its length but red or pink tipped. Some crystals have a pink core and a green exterior. The author has found both of the two latter types in the Haddam, Conn., tourmalines, and on one occasion was surprised to get back a wine-colored tourmaline from a cutter to whom he had sent a green crystal. There was but a thin shell of the green material on the outside of the crystal.
Some of the Madagascar tourmaline is of a fine brownish-red, almost as deep as a light garnet, and much clearer than most garnet.
Would it not be fitting on account of its occurrence in several localities in the United States, for Americans to use more tourmaline in their jewels? The quality of some of the tourmalines of Maine, and of California especially, is not excelled by tourmaline from any other locality. Some of the Maine tourmaline is of a delightful, slightly bluish-green tint that almost approaches emerald. |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 7
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