Natural Grey Tourmaline

[Mohmand]

Tourmaline is probably the only Gemstone in which we'd find a wide array of colors. Amongst these, one of the comparatively rarer one is a Grey Tourmaline, especially a piece that's eye-clean and loupe clean too. In my collection, there's rarely been a Grey Tourmaline b/c they are usually difficult to find. I did come across a few during visits to Peshawar but they'd usually be bi-color-greyish color combined with some other color.

Few months back, though, by chance I came across a Tourmaline lot in silver rings. Amongst these was this beautiful Tourmaline piece, around 1.5 carat, in ring. The piece looked eye clean and almost loupe clean too. At first I had some doubts since it looked a bit on the bluish/mint side, but the seller insisted that it was a grey tourmaline, albeit of a darker greyish shade. Still, such good quality pieces (and that also in Grey Tourmaline) are hard to come by. So I got this one tested, and turned out to be an untreated, natural Grey Tourmaline.

One of the better, and rarer, pieces in the collection. Apologies for the rather grainy pics.

[dchallener]

Very nice!. I remember in the 70s, there was a find of "pumpkin tourmaline" which was sort of like mandarin garnet. I had one at one point, but gave it away. *sigh*. Have not even since once since.

[danielle]

Thanks for sharing, Mohmand! You were very lucky!

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

Hello Mohmand.
Great hearing from you.
Grey.
Is the stone dichroic at all?
I'm seeing a hint of green, but so much is dependent on how my computer interprets the color.

It would be interesting to know the chemistry of this stone.

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

Very nice!. I remember in the 70s, there was a find of "pumpkin tourmaline" which was sort of like mandarin garnet. I had one at one point, but gave it away. *sigh*. Have not even since once since.

Poop. I had one too. Sold it for the price of a pizza, sans a pint of beer.
Hindsight, eh?

[danielle]

I'm seeing a hint of green, but so much is dependent on how my computer interprets the color.

I'm seeing a hint of blue .

[Mohmand]

@ Barbara Hope these pictures clearly bring out the color. Not sure about the chemistry. I'll have to get it tested in a geology lab. They now have a few, like the one at University of Peshawar. They were gifted testing instruments by Italians (and some were bought). So perhaps I'll get a chemical composition report next time I am there

[danielle]

Wonderful hue ! Like a grey eye .
Thanks for the pictures , Mohmand