Tourmaline

     Tourmaline was first discovered in Sri Lanka.  Its name comes from the Sinhalese word "turmali", which actually referred to the gem Zircon.  In fact,  Tourmaline is not even a mineral -- it's a combination of any number of minerals, which accounts for its variety of colors.  It's even been referred to as the "garbage can" of minerals because it can contain 10 or more elements!
     The most popular variety of Tourmaline is Elbaite which accounts for most of the gem's colored varieties.  There is also a colorless variety of Tourmaline called Achroite, which means "without color".  The Siberite variety is reddish-violet in color and was first discovered in Russia.  The Liddicoatite variety looks like the typical Elbaite variety but is rich in Calcium rather than the Lithium abundant in Elbaite.
     Tourmaline is dichroic, which means that if it's cut properly, it can show two different colors when seen from two different directions under the light.  
     Tourmaline also has piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties.  When it is warmed orc rubbed, the heat or friction stresses the crystal causing it to display electric charges at opposite ends.  When pressure is applied to a Tourmaline crystal, it gives off a minute electric charge.

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