11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
[R1-06] “Paraiba” tourmaline (1); The gemological definition and its geographic origin
Keywords:Paraiba Tourmaline, Copper bearing tourmaline
Paraiba is a gem variety of blue to green tourmaline containing copper (Cu).
The name is derived from the Brazilian locality Paraiba where this gemstone was first mined. However today it may come from a number of localities such as Nigeria and Mozambique. Most of Paraiba tourmaline mineralogically belongs to elbaite, but some are liddicotite. At present, regardless of the place of origin or mineral species, blue to green copper-bearing tourmaline is broadly called "Paraiba tourmaline" in the jewelry trade.
The name is derived from the Brazilian locality Paraiba where this gemstone was first mined. However today it may come from a number of localities such as Nigeria and Mozambique. Most of Paraiba tourmaline mineralogically belongs to elbaite, but some are liddicotite. At present, regardless of the place of origin or mineral species, blue to green copper-bearing tourmaline is broadly called "Paraiba tourmaline" in the jewelry trade.