Schorl Tourmaline

Color: Black, usually opaque
Moh’s Hardness: 7-7.5
Refractive Index: 1.616-1.652
Critical Angle: 38.23°
Specific Gravity: 3.02-3.26
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Uneven, small conchoidal.
Dispersion: Medium (.017)
Heat Sensitivity: Not usually a problem
Dichroic: Opaque
Birefringence (double refraction): Medium (.014-.024)
Crystal structure: Hexagonal

Treatments: Generally there is no treatments with this kind of rough, it is opaque black.

What I prefer to polishing with: Alumina oxide with a tin lap (scored).

Jeff's Comments: Cuts and polishes like any other Tourmaline, usually no problems... The material is black and generally not cut much, although I do know people that use Schorl for intarsia and inlay work because it is harder and will wear better that most other traditional materials (like jet or coral). Aslo is makes very nice cut beads.

Design Notes: About any design will work.

Rough Links:
Tourmaline - Index of Tourmaline Rough
Parcels - Parcels of various types of Tourmaline
Parcels 2 - Parcels of various types of Tourmaline
Parcels 3 - Parcels of various types of Tourmaline
Parcels 4 - Parcels of various types of Tourmaline

Collector Tourmaline - Indicolite, bi colors, unusual & rare colors
Collector Tourmaline 2 - Indicolite, bi colors, unusual & rare colors
Special Tourmaline - Rare and unusual pieces
Huge Tourmaline - Top quality individual pieces

Chrome Tourmaline - Chrome Tourmaline
Indicolite Tourmaline - Blue, blue/green African, Brazilian
Multi & Bi Color Tourmaline - Nigerian, African, pink/green, blue/green

Tourmaline - Nigerian, various colors
Tourmaline 2 - Nigerian Tourmaline, African nodules
Tourmaline 3 - Kelly green, crystal green, Africa
Tourmaline 4 - Zambian nodules
Tourmaline 5 - Brazilian, various colors
Tourmaline 6 - Dravite, Mozambique
Tourmaline 7 - Sunset Tourmaline
Tourmaline 8 - Afghanistan Tourmaline
Tourmaline 9 - Afghanistan Tourmaline
Tourmaline10 - Schorl Tourmaline

Bargain Links:
Tourmaline Bargains
Indicolite Tourmaline Bargains

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E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com