History

 In the 1500’s a Spanish conquistador found green tourmaline in Brazil which was mistaken for emerald until the 1800s when mineralogists identified tourmaline as its own mineral species. In the mid-1800s, Chinese Empress Tz’u Hsi set up a direct trade line with California Tourmaline mines. The Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi became captivated by the beauty of the Pink Tourmaline and she purchased large quantities of it. Ceylonese tourmaline gems were brought to Europe by the Dutch East India Company and were sometimes called the Ceylonese Magnet because of their ability to attract and repel hot ashes due to their pyroelectric properties; these crystals are naturally polarised and therefore can generate a temporary voltage when heated or cooled. In the 19th century, tourmalines were used to polarise light by directing rays onto a cut and polished surface of the gem. Today, tourmaline is loved by many for its unique properties and its wide range of colours that make it a popular gemstone. 

Science & Origin

Pink Tourmaline is a pink variety of Tourmaline that develops its complex chemistry in granite pegmatite and metamorphic rocks. It's a crystalline silicate mineral in which boron is compounded with elements such as iron, aluminium, sodium, magnesium, lithium, or potassium. Pink Tourmaline gets its beautiful colour from lithium impurities and irradiation from the surrounding rocks. Tourmaline can grow with other minerals such as quartz, beryl, and feldspar. 

The name is derived from the Sinhalese “Toramalli” which means “mixed gems” as the range of colours seen in tourmaline is the greatest of all minerals. Besides Pink Tourmaline, other tourmaline varieties include Schrol (black/brown), Dravite (yellow to brownish black), and the Elbaite species: Rubellite (pinkish red), Indicolite (light blue, bluish green), Verdelite (green), Achroite (colorless) and Watermelon Tourmaline (Verdelite and Rubellite formed one within the other). 

Today, the main sources of Pink Tourmaline are the USA, Brazil, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and some parts of Africa.

Healing Properties & Benefits

Pink Tourmaline is a stone of love, compassion, emotional healing, and self-love. It helps calm our emotions in times of distress and is the perfect stone to carry if you suffer from daily bouts of anxiety. This stone is a strong healing stone due to it commonly being formed within Quartz masses. Quartz naturally amplifies any stone placed near it, so we regularly recommend Pink Tourmaline to anyone suffering from heavy emotional pain weighing on the heart. This beautiful gemstone is handy for those who have recently gone through a tragedy, heartbreak, or loss of a loved one, or simply can't kick that daily depression. Try meditating by placing the stone over your heart and allowing the crystal healing energies to directly absorb into your heart space. You will soon feel lighter and emotionally balanced. 

Pink Tourmaline is also a great gemstone when it comes to manifestation as it is our heart space where manifestation begins. When manifesting during meditation, focus on your heart space - you can also place your crystal on your heart and feel the energy expanding from the heart through your body out into the universe returning your desires. If you are not the meditating type, just simply weaning Pink Tourmaline throughout the day will provide you with the vibrations necessary to get your dreams actualised faster. 

Pink Tourmaline awakens the heart to its full loving potential, not only towards the self but also towards others. In return, it will help you attract true love into your life or bring existing loved ones closer. You will let go of past trauma or future worry, and instead seek out the present moment and feel content and satisfied with your life. 

Pink Tourmaline resonates with the Heart Chakra which is associated with the thymus gland which is the body’s main immunity gland responsible for growth, repair, and regeneration of the body. If this energy centre is blocked we may feel resentment, loneliness, or the inability to connect with others. Using this powerful crystal your heart centre will be balanced and you will feel whole, satisfied with who you are, and in love with life. Heighten the crystal chakra healing with resonating F# notes. More on crystal chakra healing  

Feng Shui: Southwest, Southeast | Element: Water | Ruling planet: Venus | Zodiac: Libra