Tourmaline in Quartz (Afrizite)

Afrizita is part of the tourmaline family. It acquires an electrical charge when it is heated or rubbed. Afrizite is a more common species of tourmaline. It is black and rich in iron. Because of its color, it was used as jewelry during mourning. It is commonly found throughout the world, and its opaque prismatic crystals can reach several meters in length. It is similar to other tourmaline species in almost every detail, except for the black color, which is justified by the presence of a large amount of iron in its chemical composition. The iron in Afrizite comes from the magma in which all tourmalines originally formed. It is found mainly in rocks that were formed from molten material and may also be present in rocks that have undergone transformations with increasing temperature and pressure, and in deposits of granulated rocks, which have been weathered and transported by water. Tourmaline is a pyroelectric mineral, that is, electric current is generated in its crystals when it is rubbed or heated, hence its use for cleaning clothes, because the powder adheres to the mineral when rubbed. Afrizite is the most common variety of tourmaline and therefore the least expensive of them all.