I. Characteristics of Natural Tourmaline
Natural tourmaline is a silicate mineral, and its main components are aluminum, iron, magnesium and silicon. Its colors are varied, including blue, green, yellow, red and so on. One of the most precious is the dark blue tourmaline, which is considered to be the most valuable. The hardness of natural tourmaline is relatively high, generally between 7 and 8, which is suitable for making jewelry. In addition, natural tourmaline also has good scratch resistance and high refractive index, which makes it shine brightly under the irradiation of light.
Second, the identification method of natural tourmaline
There are many ways to identify natural tourmaline. Here we introduce several commonly used methods.
1. Observation color: The color of natural tourmaline is usually bright and uniform, with no obvious color difference. If the color is uneven or there are obvious ribbons, it may be artificial tourmaline.
2. Check the cutting: Natural tourmaline is usually finely cut, polished smoothly, and the cut surface is smooth and flat. If the cut surface has obvious defects or irregular cutting, it may be artificial tourmaline.
3. Observe the interior with a magnifying glass: the interior of natural tourmaline usually has fine textures and bubbles, which are caused by its natural formation process. If there is no obvious texture or there are many bubbles in it, it may be artificial tourmaline.
Third, the maintenance skills of natural tourmaline
Natural tourmaline is a hard gem, but it still needs proper maintenance to keep its beauty and luster.
1. Avoid collision: Although tourmaline has high hardness, it is still easily damaged by external forces. Therefore, when doing physical activities or heavy physical work, you should try to avoid wearing tourmaline ornaments.
2. Regular cleaning: Use mild soapy water and a soft brush to clean tourmaline ornaments. Avoid using chemical cleaners or too rough brushes to avoid damaging the surface of the gem.
3. Precautions for storage: Store tourmaline ornaments in a dry and cool place to avoid rubbing against other hard objects. You can put the ornaments in a soft cloth bag to prevent scratches.
final result
As a treasure of nature, natural tourmaline has unique beauty and precious value. Natural tourmaline can be identified by observing the color, checking the cutting and observing the inside with a magnifying glass. In terms of maintenance, avoiding collision, regular cleaning and proper storage are the keys to keep tourmaline ornaments beautiful. I hope this article can help you understand the natural tourmaline and let you better appreciate and protect this precious gem.