LOT 17.25 ct 2 pc SCHORL – BRAZIL

Schorl (Black Tourmaline)

After I stopped selling my gemstones for a time, I decided to explore new ventures and travel extensively. While living in India, I visited the home of a spiritual friend nestled deep within a forest. I immediately noticed the house was surrounded by massive black crystals, which I identified as Schorl. When I asked why he placed them everywhere, he explained it wasn’t about aesthetics; he believed the black tourmaline protected him from radiation, evil forces, and negative influences. I decided to change the topic then, but for you, I have taken this deep, midnight material and had it beautifully faceted. While I can’t personally guarantee any magical protection properties, I can guarantee that its structural beauty and mirror-like luster are world-class.

The Heritage & Discovery

Historical Significance: Schorl is the most common member of the tourmaline family, yet it holds a unique place in human history. Long before it was a staple of the “spiritual” community, it was known to Dutch traders as Aschentrekker (ash-drawer) because of its pyroelectric properties—it could literally pull ash from a warm pipe. It represents the grounding force of the tourmaline group, providing a dense, opaque contrast to its colorful cousins like Elbaite. In various cultures, it has been a symbol of strength and a barrier against the unseen, valued for its “light-eating” quality.

Discovery: The name “Schorl” is one of the oldest in mineralogy, in use before the year 1400. It is derived from the name of a village in Saxony, Germany (now Zschorlau), where the mineral was abundantly found in nearby tin mines. While tourmaline as a group was officially classified later, Schorl has been the “black anchor” of mineralogy for centuries.

Important Mines: While Schorl is found globally, the massive, high-quality crystals I encountered in India (particularly from the Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh regions) are legendary for their size and structural perfection. Other world-class specimens come from the Erongo Mountains in Namibia and the pegmatites of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We source the most “jet-black” material from these high-iron environments to ensure that once faceted, the stone shows a flawless, vitreous surface without any brown or green transparency at the edges.

Mineralogical Profile

Description: Schorl is a complex sodium iron aluminum borosilicate, crystallizing in the trigonal system. It sits at a 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it an exceptionally durable gemstone for all types of jewelry. It is characterized by its intense black color, which is due to its high iron content. One of its most fascinating properties is its pleochroism—even though it looks black, it can absorb light differently along its different axes. When faceted, it exhibits a brilliant, sub-adamantine luster that looks like black liquid glass.

Chemical Formula: NaFe²⁺₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH)