Madagascar Tourmaline

Madagascar is a historical source for some of the best tourmalines ever. The famous Anjanabonoina mine near Antsirabe has been producing some of the most astonishing tourmaline specimen ever.

Tourmalin

Origin	Madagascar, Brasil, Mocambique, Nigeria,Pakistan, Afghanistan
Chemical Composition	Borosilicate
Refractive Index	1.624-1.644 (+0.011, -0.009)
Birifrangence	0.018-0.040
Mohs Hardness	7-7.5
Density	3.06 (+0.20, -0.06)
Dispersion	0.017
Crystal Structure	Trigonal
Color	all imaginable colors

In these days tourmalines are still mined near Antsirabe and near Fianarantsoa. Almost all varieties of tourmaline are found in Madagascar beside Paraiba Tourmaline. It is possible to have fantastic rubellites, hot pink tourmalins, indicolites, watermelon tourmalines, fantastic polychrome tourmalines, acroites, and dravites.

Most of the material that is mined is for cabochon quality but sometimes very important and very fine prisms of finest tourmaline are found.

Cut stones from 1 to 10 carats are usual, over 10 carats of fine tourmaline with a good clarity are rather rare!