Tourmaline 5x8mm Chip Beads

An ancient Egyptian legend attempts to explain the beautiful array of colors in this gemstone - on the long journey from the middle of the earth up toward the sun, the tourmaline traveled along a rainbow. On the way, it collected all the colors of the rainbow, which is why it came to be known as "the rainbow gemstone."  Tourmaline is a complex crystalline silicate containing aluminum, boron and other elements. Its name is derived from the Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) word tura mali, meaning "stone of mixed colors." Indeed, tourmaline appears in blue, yellow, pink, red, black, green and clear.  Tourmaline is piezoelectric; this means heating, rubbing or pressurizing the crystal gives it an electric charge, attracting small objects such as hair or small pieces of paper. It also is pleochroic, looking darker from some angles than from others. In medieval times, tourmaline was thought to heal physical and mental disorders, and prevent death. It is said to dispel fear, negativity and grief, and according to legend, it protects the wearer against many dangers and misfortunes.