Spotlight on | Black Tourmaline
What was it our Year 7 Sex-Ed Teacher always told us? Oh, that’s right, “Always use protection”. A solid, universal piece of advice that you can turn to in pretty much any given situation (except perhaps the US gun debate, but that’s another story…)
The History of Black Tourmaline
Black Tourmaline has been used for centuries to protect from evil spirits. It deflects and transforms not only negative energy, but harmful thoughts and shitty people too! It is often used as an aura cleanser and can help you attain higher levels of awareness.
Tourmaline has been around since Medieval times, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s, when mineralogist George Kunz sold Tourmaline to Tiffany & Co., that it gained popularity.
Because of its various shades and appearances, Tourmaline spent hundreds, if not thousands, of years being confused with other gemstones. In the 1500s, a Spanish conquistador found green tourmaline in Brazil—which he mistook for emerald. His error held until the 1800s, when mineralogists finally identified tourmaline as its own mineral species.
Variations of the name “schorl” may have been used to describe Black Tourmaline since before the 1400s. The name comes from a village in Saxony, Germany, (now called Zschorlau) near a mine with black tourmaline deposits. The Dutch East India Company spend centuries transporting Sri Lankan Tourmaline to Europe before traders realised it was the same mineral as schorl.
Recognising Black Tourmaline
There are obviously many different colours of Tourmaline, although Black is the most common. The colour differs due to the minerals present at the time the stone is formed. Black tourmaline gets its colour due to a large presence of iron and manganese.
Black Tourmaline has a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale.
What is Black Tourmaline used for?
This mysterious and alluring stone is one of the most powerful and effective crystals for anxiety. If you find yourself being swept away by the storm clouds of fear, Keep Calm and Carry Black Tourmaline. The Xanax of healing crystals, this protective stone is another essential component to your crystal first aid kit.
Black Tourmaline works like a super absorbent sponge, soaking up all the negative energy that surrounds it. Wear Black Tourmaline jewellery or carry it with you so you don't pick up on other people’s toxic energy. It's one thing to be compassionate and caring but it's the danger zone for your soul when you take on someone else's drama.
Black Tourmaline is also one of the most powerful minerals for absorbing electromagnetic radiation, which makes it excellent for placing near computers, iPhones, et al.
With an intense black colour that makes a killer statement piece in any home, Black Tourmaline is also a decorator's dream. Black Tourmaline is the new black.
