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Tourmaline Triplets
The Tourmaline Triplets were donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History by anonymous donors from Arizona in 2009.
The tourmaline family consists of more than ten distinct minerals, but only one, elbaite, accounts for nearly all of the tourmaline gemstones. Although best known in shades of green and red, elbaite also can be blue, purple, yellow or colorless. Moreover, single crystals of elbaite can show several colors, either along their lengths or from the inside out, making it possible to cut unique multicolored gems. This color zoning results from different impurity atoms that were incorporated into the growing crystal. This amazing suite of three faceted gems is a rare example of extremely fine, well matched, tricolor tourmalines. Faceted to highlight the vivid deep green, yellow, and orangey-red colors, the size, quality and beauty of these gemstones makes them exceptional. The elongated octagonal step cut gems make a stunning addition to the display of tourmalines in the National Gem Collection.
