What is the difference between rubellite and tourmaline

Rubellite tourmaline gemstones are well suited for wearing and are uncomplicated to care for, since all tourmalines have a hardness of 7 to 7. Its lustre is vitreous, it ranges from transparent to translucent, and is doubly refractive. Its cleavage is perfect on the basal plane, breaking with uneven fractures. Rubellite Tourmaline has a specific gravity of 3. The refractive index RI , measured using a refractometer, is an indication of the amount light rays are bent by a mineral.

Birefringence is the difference between the minimum and maximum RI. When birefringence is high, light rays reflect off different parts of the back of a stone causing an apparent doubling of the back facets when viewed through the front facet.

Most gems have a crystalline structure. Crystals have planes of symmetry and are divided into seven symmetry systems. The number of axes, their length, and their angle to each other determine the system to which a crystal belongs. Rubellite Tourmaline belongs to the trigonal crystal system and occurs as long, slender to thick prismatic and columnar crystals that are usually triangular in cross-section. Interestingly, the style of termination at the ends of crystals is asymmetrical, called hemimorphism.

Small slender prismatic crystals are common in a fine-grained granite called aplite, often forming radial daisy-like patterns. Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides.

Prisms faces often have heavy vertical striations that produce a rounded triangular effect. Tourmaline is rarely perfectly euhedral. An exception was the fine dravite tourmalines of Yinnietharra, in western Australia.

The deposit was discovered in the s, but is now exhausted. Rubellite Tourmaline has another feature that attracted the attention of scientists since ancient times.

The philosopher Theophrastus wrote 23 centuries ago that "lyngourion", probably the mineral tourmaline, had the property of attracting straws and bits of wood. This effect, called pyroelectricity, occurs when the crystal is heated, causing it to yield a positive charge at one end of the crystal and a negative charge at the other and attract light weight substances. An electrical charge can also be induced in some tourmaline crystals simply by applying pressure to the crystal in the direction of the vertical crystal axis.

This effect is known as piezoelectricity, and found many uses in pressure measuring equipment and other scientific applications: Tourmaline was used in the production of pressure sensitive gauges for submarine instrumentation as well as other war equipment.

The pressure gauges that measured the power of the first atomic bomb blasts were made with slices of this gem. Almost all gem tourmaline is of the Elbaite variety. Elbaite also contains the appealing multicolored crystals. Fine crystals are very expensive, as they make beautiful specimens.

They are one of the most prized minerals to a collector. The varieties Schorl and Dravite are usually opaque and have little gem value. Both are common and not particularly interesting. In the past, mourning jewelry was carved out of black Schorl. The other forms of tourmaline Liddicoatite, Uvite, Chromdravite, and Buergerite , are very rare and are only appreciated by serious mineral collectors.

Tourmaline is a gemstone noted for the large and unsurpassed range of colors in which it occurs, and rubellite tourmalines.

Even among rubellite tourmalines there is a wide range of color. Some of them are very light, others are so dark that the red hue can only be recognized when the stone is held against the light.

There are rubellite tourmalines in fine red hues, but also in pinkish and violetish nuances. The word "rainbow" is used figuratively to describe tourmaline stones. In reality, it is a well recognized fact that tourmaline's diversity in color is not limited to the seven colors of the rainbow.

Loose Tourmaline can be colorless to just about any color, hue, or tone known to man, even individual crystals of rubellite tourmaline can vary in color along their length or in cross-section. Rubellite is available in various colors ranging from red to violet and dramatic pink.

Due to its beauty, rarity and captivating color range, this multifaceted gemstone is the most highly prized and expensive type of tourmaline. Although it comes from several mining sites around the world, rubellite gemstones are extremely rare. Over the past years, cleaner rough rubellite gemstones have been found in certain areas of Africa. However, these stones usually have brown tinges which reduces their value and desirability.

This is because orange or brown colored rubellite gemstones are less pricey than violet, pink and red ones. Rubellites in the desired color ranges are found in Brazil but these often contain inclusions and are rarely eye-clean. Ruby gemstone by James Allen. See more here. Rubellite is a type of pink tourmaline gemstone which is often compared to the ruby because of its rich color. However, the two gemstones are completely different. For one thing, rubies have a more vibrant red undertone, which enhances the color of the stone.

Rubies are also denser and therefore heavier than rubellites. However, rubellites are much rarer than rubies. Another main difference is in the perceived value of both gemstones — ruby is considered a precious gemstone while rubellite is only a semi-precious stone. However, there are several factors that impact on the value of rubelllite, including clarity, color and cut quality.

Pink tourmaline ring by Jewellery Villa. Rubies have a much higher density and a richer red undertone than the rubellites. Also, they have a brilliant shine. Rubellites are a type of tourmaline stones that are pink to red in color with pinches of purple. A high-quality rubellite must not change shades in different types of light. Another structural quality of a rubellite is that it is pyroelectric, which means that it gets electrically charged upon heating.

On the Mohs scale of hardness, the ruby gets a 9, second only to the diamond. Rubellites, like all tourmalines, have a hardness of 7 to 7. The more these inclusions are rare and minor, the higher the value of the gem is. And that is true for every stone. July babies, with ruby as your birthstone, I give you full permission to choose either a ruby or rubellite as the perfect gem for a special piece of jewelry.

I would love to custom design - collaborate with you - on a mother's ring, a pair of birthday earrings or a signature necklace. Stay in touch on my Facebook or Instagram profiles, too.

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