Paraiba tourmaline is a highly prized variety of elbaite distinguished by its intense, neon electric-blue or green hues caused by trace amounts of copper and manganese. These stones are exceptionally rare and typically found in small, fractured crystals within pegmatite deposits, often requiring significant facet cutting to maximize their vibrant color and dispersion.
Is this paraiba tourmaline?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch paraiba tourmaline with a known reference. Paraiba Tourmaline sits at Mohs 7-7.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Paraiba Tourmaline leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Paraiba Tourmaline typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: neon blue, neon green, violet, turquoise.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Paraiba Tourmaline vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Paraiba Tourmaline is noticeably harder (Mohs 7-7.5 vs. 5).
How to tell apart: Paraiba Tourmaline is noticeably harder (Mohs 7-7.5 vs. 4).
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Paraiba Tourmaline and adamantine on Zircon.
Often found alongside paraiba tourmaline
Minerals reported to co-occur with paraiba tourmaline. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Li,Ca)(Mn,Fe,Mg,Al,Ti,□)₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH,F)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 7-7.5
- Density
- 3.06 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Indistinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Gemstone, Collector
- Host rock
- Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $1,000-50,000+ per carat
Where rockhounds find paraiba tourmaline
Classic worldwide localities
- Paraiba, Brazil
- Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Nigeria
- Mozambique
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites country — that is the host setting where paraiba tourmaline typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, feldspar, mica in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find paraiba tourmaline on the map
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