TOURMALINE CUPRIAN (miniature)

Tourmaline is a crystalline silicate mineral group characterized by the presence of boron combined with elements like aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. This gemstone is known for its extensive range of colors.

The term "tourmaline" originates from the Sinhalese word tōramalli, which pertains to carnelian gemstones.

The simplest definition for cuprian tourmaline is tourmaline that contains copper in some amount. A new species of tourmaline with copper as an essential ingredient has never been found and probably never will be since copper seems to precipitate from the crystallizing tourmaline when the concentration gets too high. And copper has been found in very low concentrations (trace amounts) in many tourmaline and used by prospectors to discover ore deposits. So where does that put copper in tourmaline, that meets the gemological criteria to be cuprian tourmaline? It has to be a chromophore. A chromophore is an element that is in high enough concentrations to effect the color of the gemstone. I believe that if copper is a chromophore in a piece of tourmaline, that it meets the “official” criteria to be cuprian tourmaline.