Paraiba Tourmaline
Paraiba Tourmaline is a variety of tourmaline gemstone with different shades of green, violet, and yellow. It is only found in the Paraíba basin in Brazil and Argentina, where it was discovered in 1788. The best-known color grades are “Paraiba Green,” a dark-greenish color; “Crimson Paraiba,” a light yellow-green; and “Paraiba Violet,” an intense purple-violet.
Properties
Its properties include hardness 7, 5, or 2 on the Mohs scale; specific gravity: 3.4 to 4.2; and crystal habit: pyroxene group of quartz that can be terminated by an octahedron, basal dodecahedron, or a prism. It is usually light green, with shades of violet and yellow to purple, but also yellowish-green to almost black. It is found in different shades of green, violet, and yellow. The gemstone is not very often exported from Brazil as most exports are for fakes.
The green color is caused by chromium, iron, and manganese elements. The violet color is caused by the presence of iron, chromium, and vanadium elements. The yellow color is caused by the presence of vanadium, iron, carbon, and nitrogen elements.
The crown of the Queen of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix, was adorned with three Paraiba Tourmalines. The gemstone is also be found in the Crown Jewels of Brazil and Argentina.
Occurrence
Paraiba Tourmaline is a variety of gemstone that is a carbonate mineral in which the named gemstone type is an iridescent, multicolored stone. The color varies depending on the light source and observed angle, ranging from green to yellow to red. It can also be tan or brownish-green in the shade, sometimes known as “smoky Paraiba.”
The name of this material comes from Paraíba, a Brazilian town located in the state that produces about 30% of world production. Brazil is the world’s leading producer (by value) of Tourmaline, and some Brazilians now consider it a national symbol. It is also mined in Africa and Australia. Tourmaline in Canada can be found in parts of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta.
Tourmaline is also found in the Mexican states of San Luis Potosí, Chihuahua, Sonora, and Baja, California; in the Dominican Republic; Venezuela; Colombia; Madagascar; Kenya; Tanzania; Angola; and Namibia.
Uses of Paraiba Tourmaline
Paraiba Tourmaline is a gemstone that has been used for various purposes and boasts quite a few different uses. Here are just some of the many ways Paraiba can be used:
– Healing: Paraiba is believed to have powerful healing properties; it can help with ailments of the heart, mind, and body. It’s also good for those who have issues with insomnia or anxiety.
– Limitations: Paraiba is believed to help with emotions, which means that it can bring out hidden feelings and emotions. Using Paraiba can, in some cases, lead to problems regarding self-esteem, impulse control, and anger management.
– Reduces Blood Pressure: It acts as a vasodilator for nitric oxide (NO) production. This means it helps improve blood flow, thus reducing blood pressure. Paraiba is also believed to help reduce blood pressure by improving circulation and oxygenation of the blood.
– Enhances Immunity: Paraiba has several immune-boosting properties. It helps with white blood cell production, which in turn helps fight infections. The stone also acts as a powerful antioxidant that boosts the body’s natural healing process and helps prevent infections from taking place.
– Mind: Paraiba helps enhance memory, concentration, and communication skills. The stone can also help those working towards a goal or trying to achieve certain things in life and need a bit of focus along the way. It’s also believed to enhance creativity.
– Emotional Healing: Paraiba is no doubt for people who are struggling with emotional issues in their life. Those who want to find joy, trust, and love again might benefit from using this stone.