Gemstone profile and identification guide
Green Tourmaline is often discussed with one eye on colour and the other on where the material comes from. That combination of green body colour, 7 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice.
Green Tourmaline is often discussed with one eye on colour and the other on where the material comes from. That combination of green body colour, 7 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice.
Did you know? Green Tourmaline is commonly associated with material from Brazil, though the broader trade may draw on multiple localities.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Green Tourmaline
Scientific classification: Cyclosilicate (Tourmaline Group)
Hardness: 7.25 Mohs
Transparency: transparent
Lustre: vitreous
Crystal system: Trigonal
Primary colour: Green
Secondary colour: Not specified
Colour family: Greens
A practical identification pass begins with the visible basics: transparent transparency, vitreous lustre, 7 Mohs hardness, and a hexagonal crystal system. Colour on its own is not enough; use hardness and lustre alongside hue to rule out obvious lookalikes. Useful side-by-side comparisons include Tourmaline, Pink Tourmaline, Black Tourmaline.
Status: verified-family-derived
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields inherited from verified parent profile: tourmaline.
Green tourmaline profile inherits tourmaline core identity fields.
Variety-level locality and treatment specifics can differ and should be reviewed before publication-grade claims.
Hardness category: medium
Hardness value: 7.25 Mohs
Chemical composition: Complex borosilicate group (variable species chemistry)
Crystal system: Trigonal
Common locations: Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Green Tourmaline is listed in the greens grouping, with green as the dominant body colour.
Optical effects: Pleochroism
Mineral species: Tourmaline group
Mineral group: Tourmaline group
Chemical formula: Complex borosilicate group (variable species chemistry)
Mohs hardness: 7.25
Crystal system: Trigonal
Lustre: vitreous
Transparency: transparent
Streak: White
Cleavage: Indistinct
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 3.00-3.20
Refractive index: 1.61-1.65
Optical phenomena: Pleochroism
Colour range: Green
Common inclusions: Growth tubes, liquid inclusions, and color-zoning features
Geological environment: Green Tourmaline occurs in Boron-rich granitic pegmatites and associated hydrothermal systems. Its Trigonal structure reflects the pressure-temperature conditions of those host rocks, with notable occurrences in Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar.
Principal mining regions: Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar
Important commercial sources: Commercial gem tourmaline is supplied mainly by Brazil and East Africa, with Afghanistan important for some varieties
Historical significance: Tourmaline has become a cornerstone of modern colored-gem trade due to wide color diversity.
Common treatments: Heat treatment is used for some colors; other treatments vary by variety and source lot.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Glass and assembled imitations exist; synthetic true tourmaline is not common in jewelry trade.
Common look-alikes: tourmaline, pink tourmaline, black tourmaline
Jewellery uses: Green Tourmaline is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.25 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Green Tourmaline should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.25 in the Trigonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Store separately from harder gems to minimise abrasion and edge wear.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Green Tourmaline.
Green Tourmaline is a Tourmaline group material with chemistry Complex borosilicate group (variable species chemistry). It develops in Boron-rich granitic pegmatites and associated hydrothermal systems, and economically significant production is associated with Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar.
Commercial gem tourmaline is supplied mainly by Brazil and East Africa, with Afghanistan important for some varieties
Best for: Green Tourmaline is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.25 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.
Green Tourmaline should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.25 in the Trigonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Store separately from harder gems to minimise abrasion and edge wear.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (7.25 Mohs), crystal system (Trigonal), colour profile, and lustre (vitreous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Green Tourmaline is listed in the greens grouping, with green as the dominant body colour.
A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
