Blue surprise: apatite and not Paraiba tourmaline
Last summer, the SSEF received a series of nine small blue cabochons ranging in weight from 0.4 to 1.5 ct. The client assumed that these stones were Paraiba tourmalines from a very early production of the Sao José da Batahla mine in the state of Paraiba in Brazil, as they were safeguarded for several decades
An interesting chrysoberyl-alexandrite combination
The mineral chrysoberyl BeAl2O4 is an attractive gemstone that shows a wide variation of colours mostly ranging from yellow to green and brownish green to dark brown. These colours are mainly due to the presence of iron and sometimes vanadium as chromophore elements inside the crystal lattice structure.
Native copper inclusions in copper-bearing tourmaline: a new formation scenario?
Gold-coloured platelet inclusions have been reported in copper- bearing tourmaline from Paraíba State in Brazil since the discovery of this highly sought-after gemstone (Fritsch et al., 1990) in the late 1980s. Until now, this extraordinary type of inclusion in tourmaline was mentioned in the literature only
Paraiba or Not? Cu-bearing Tourmaline with a Distinct Fe Concentration
Paraiba or Not? Cu-bearing Tourmaline with a Distinct Fe Concentration. Published in Journal of Gemmology, 2022, 38 (1), 20-22.
New copper-bearing tourmalines from Nigeria
Copper-bearing tourmaline from Nigeria is known in the trade since about two decades (Milisenda 2001, Henricus, 2001; Smith et al., 2001; Zang et al., 2001). The first reported material from Nigeria was rather of aquamarine- to amethyst-like colours, but shortly after it was followed by a limited and sporadic p
Canary tourmaline from Zambia
by Dr. M.S. Krzemnicki, first published in Facette 27 (June 2021) Tourmaline is a mineral group of complex boro-silicates and is well known to produce gemstones in a wide range of beautiful colours. A specifically attractive variety is vivid yellow elbaite tourmaline, which owes its colour to manganes
Cu-containing Thin Sheet Inclusion in Cu-bearing Tourmaline from Brazil
Cu-containing Thin Sheet Inclusion in Cu-bearing Tourmaline from Brazil. IGC 2021 Proceedings, 45-46.
Paraiba Research Update: An elemental Analysis of Paraiba Tourmaline from Brazil
At the SSEF, origin determination of Paraiba tourmalines is based on years of experience researching collection samples from SSEF and Prof. Hänni collections, donated and loaned samples from clients, as well as knowledge from scientific literature. However, the mining area and depth of the material have been i
Paraiba Tourmaline Intergrown with Lepidolite Mica
by Dr. M.S. Krzemnicki, first published in Facette 20 (January 2013) The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF recently received a necklace for testing that consisted of thirty-three slightly polished light blue to greenish-blue and purple beads. It had originally been sold as Paraiba tourmaline to our client. The
Multi-Element Correlation Analysis of Cu-bearing Tourmaline using LA-ICP-Time-Of-Flight-MS
Multi-Element Correlation Analysis of Cu-bearing Tourmaline using LA-ICP-Time-Of-Flight-MS. EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-16170, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-16170, 2021.