The Tourmaline Path: from nature to our lives

Tourmaline is a mineral supergroup made up of more than 30 species, whose crystals can be found in nature in several different shades. Its name derives from the word “turmalli”, of Sinhalese origin, and means “mixed colored stones”.

Elements such as potassium, aluminum, iron, sodium, magnesium and lithium form its composition. Its most famous species for its variety of colors is Elbaite. The amount of transition metals is what defines the final color of the mineral.

Among the more than 30 species of Tourmalines are Dravita (light brown to dark brown, to brownish black. Also dark yellow, blue and green), Schorl (black) and Elbaíta (green, blue-green, blue, electric blue, red, pink, orange, yellow and colorless).

It is often used in jewelry and also, according to some beliefs, for therapeutic purposes. Tradition says that Tourmaline brings with it the ability to heal and ward off negative energies.  History points out that the Greek people used this stone as a talisman.

In addition to being found in Brazil, we have records of Tourmaline mining in several other parts of the world such as Nigeria, Pakistan, Mozambique, Tanzania, Afghanistan and Madagascar.

Discovered by the explorer Fernão Dias Paes Leme in 1674, the Cruzeiro mountain, located in São José da Safira - Minas Gerais, was a place where it was believed to find sapphires and emeralds, but which after some time was confirmed to be a cradle of Tourmalines.

In 1944, Mineração Aricanga is founded, being the first mine in the Serra do Cruzeiro region to operate legally. Under the direction of its founder, Dr. Jamil Kahey, the company has developed and consolidated as the largest company in the trade of Tourmalines around the world.

More than 300 years have passed since its discovery, and we still have a lot to explore. The Serra do Cruzeiro is home to one of the largest Tourmaline Pegmatites in the world and most of it is within Aricanga.