← All gemstones
Tourmaline · Variety of Tourmaline

Pink Tourmaline

Pale to hot pink, colored by manganese; lighter than rubellite

Hot Pink Pink
Optical properties

Optical characteristics

Ref. index
1.62 – 1.64
Birefringence
0.018 – 0.04
Luster
Vitreous
Pleochroism
Strong Strong dichroism: deep pink to pale pink or near-colorless perpendicular to c-axis.
Fluorescence
Inert to weak.
Origins

Source localities

Brazil Brazil: Minas Gerais / Paraíba / Bahia
Significant

Major source for beryl, tourmaline, quartz, topaz, chrysoberyl and rare minerals.

30% est. supply
Afghanistan Afghanistan: Panjshir / Nuristan / Badakhshan
Significant

Known for emerald, tourmaline, kunzite, lapis lazuli and rare minerals.

22% est. supply
Madagascar Madagascar: Ilakaka / Andranondambo region
Significant

Modern major source for sapphire, garnet, beryl, quartz, tourmaline and many collector gems.

20% est. supply
Mozambique Mozambique: Montepuez / Alto Ligonha / Cuamba
Significant

Major modern source for ruby, garnet, tourmaline and Paraíba-type tourmaline.

15% est. supply
Nigeria Nigeria: Oyo / Ogun / Plateau fields
Significant

Important source for tourmaline, sapphire, garnet, beryl and topaz.

13% est. supply
Treatments

Enhancement & treatment

Heat Heat Treatment, Tourmaline Heat treatment is used to improve tourmaline color and is often stable. Disclosure is… Color Enhancement Irradiation, Tourmaline Irradiation can alter tourmaline color centers. It may be used alone or followed by…
Inclusions

Inclusions & features

Needles Growth Tubes, Rain Inclusions Under 10x loupe: long thin hollow channels running parallel to each other and to… Zoning Color Zoning Under 10x loupe in immersion: bands or patches of deeper or lighter color arranged… Crystals Crystal Inclusions Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may… Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look… Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Identification

Instruments used

Refractometer Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification Dichroscope Reveals pleochroism, instantly eliminates singly-refractive stones 10x Loupe Your most-used instrument, start every examination here Polariscope Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive Immersion Microscope See every internal detail clearly, the professional standard