The Great Crystal, Part 1
http://www.thunderbolts.info/wp/forum/phpB ... 855#p22591
The Great Crystal, Part 2
http://www.thunderbolts.info/wp/forum/phpB ... 885#p22897
The Great Crystal, Part 3 - Tourmaline
The reason - infrared Tourmaline is the only one mineral to show permanent electricity on the earth and is also a natural (non-manufactured) source of negative ions and far infrared (FIR) rays.
Tourmaline belongs to the trigonal crystal system. The style of termination at the ends of crystals is asymmetrical, called hemimorphism. All hemimorphic crystals are piezoelectric, and are often pyroelectric as well.
Tourmaline is also pleochroic, which makes it appear darker from some angles than from others.
Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides.
Tourmaline has unusual electrical properties: Tourmaline crystals when warmed become positively charged at one end and negatively charged at the other.
Tourmaline is the only one mineral to show permanent electricity on the earth and is also a natural source of negative ions and far infrared (FIR) rays.
Tourmaline comes from “the center of the Earth”
On its long journey from the middle of the earth up toward the sun, the tourmaline traveled along a rainbow collecting all the colors of the rainbow. This is why tourmaline came to be known as "the rainbow gemstone."
According to an ancient Egyptian legend, this is the result of the gemstone traveling along a rainbow from the Earth’s heart, up to the sun.
Tourmaline has healing properties
Tourmaline has often been called the “muses’ stone” because it is believed that its imaginative colors contain inspirational powers that grant enlightenment
Due to the stones’ energetic conductivity and vast array of elements, they are thought to have powerful healing abilities and protect against many dangers.
Ever since the ancient days, the gem has been attributed with magical powers
Paraiba tourmaline’s spectacular color is due to the presence of a small amount of copper. There is also a surprisingly high content of gold in the stones. While the average gold content of the Earth’s crust is 0.007 parts per million, Paraiba tourmalines contain a remarkable 8.6 parts per million.
Tourmaline
http://www.healthiswealthmaui.com/alkal ... maline.htm
The reason - infrared Tourmaline is the only one mineral to show permanent electricity on the earth and is also a natural (non-manufactured) source of negative ions and far infrared (FIR) rays.
The magnetic properties of tourmaline and epidote
http://www.springerlink.com/content/y84012970gt28189/
The pyroelectric properties exhibited by it make it a crystal of great importance to physicists.
What is Tourlamine
http://www.root-cn.com/Brif-Introductio ... ineral.htm
Tourmaline belongs to the trigonal crystal system and occurs as long, slender to thick prismatic and columnar crystals that are usually triangular in cross-section. Interestingly, the style of termination at the ends of crystals is asymmetrical, called hemimorphism. Small slender prismatic crystals are common in a fine-grained granite called aplite, often forming radial daisy-like patterns. Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides. Prisms faces often have heavy vertical striations that produce a rounded triangular effect. Tourmaline is rarely perfectly euhedral.
All hemimorphic crystals are piezoelectric, and are often pyroelectric as well. Tourmaline crystals when warmed become positively charged at one end and negatively charged at the other. Due to this effect, tourmaline crystals in collections may attract unsightly coatings of dust when displayed under hot spotlights. Tourmaline's unusual electrical properties made it famous in the early 18th century. Brightly coloured Sri Lankan gem tourmalines were brought to Europe in great quantities by the Dutch East India Company to satisfy demand as curios and gems. At the time it was not realised that schorl and tourmaline were the same mineral.
Tourmaline
http://www.khulsey.com/jewelry/gemstone ... aline.html
On its long journey from the middle of the earth up toward the sun, the tourmaline traveled along a rainbow collecting all the colors of the rainbow. This is why tourmaline came to be known as "the rainbow gemstone." Tourmaline owes its rainbow coloration to trace impurities such as chromium (red), iron (dark blue, dark brown), lithium (green, pink), manganese (pink), schorl (black) and vanadium (green). Tourmaline belongs to the Trigonal crystal system with a Parallel and Elongated Striated Crystal habit.
Tourmaline is a complex crystalline silicate (cyclosilicate) containing aluminum, boron and other trace elements. Tourmaline is piezoelectric which means that heating, rubbing or pressurizing the crystal gives it an electric charge. It is also pleochroic, which makes it appear darker from some angles than from others. Tourmaline's pyroelectric quality was discovered in the early seventeenth century.
Tourmaline Group
http://www.galleries.com/Minerals/Silicate/tourmali.htm
Most people consider tourmaline to be a single mineral. But in fact it is a group named for several different, but closely related minerals.
There are many unique properties of tourmalines. First, they are piezoelectric which means that when a crystal is heated or compressed (or vibrated) a different electrical charge will form at opposite ends of the crystal (an electrical potential). Conversely if an electrical potential is applied to the crystal, it will vibrate. Secondly they are pleochroic which means that the crystal will look darker in color when viewed down the long axis of the crystal than when viewed from the side. This property goes beyond the idea that the crystal is just thicker in that direction. Even equally dimensioned crystals will demonstrate this trait. This property can be used as an advantage by gem cutters who may wish to enhance a crystal's pale color or weaken a strongly colored crystal.
Tourlamine
http://www.shopnbc.com/ShoppingGuides/C ... spx?id=277
Tourmaline occurs in virtually every color of the spectrum, with an unlimited range of solid and mixed colors in all imaginable shades. According to an ancient Egyptian legend, this is the result of the gemstone traveling along a rainbow from the Earth’s heart, up to the sun. On its journey, the legend says that tourmaline collected all the colors of the rainbow, which is why nowadays it is called the “Rainbow Gemstone.”
Tourmalines are piezoelectric, meaning they can generate electrical charges when heated, compressed or vibrated. They then become polarized crystalline magnets and can attract light objects.
Due to the stones’ energetic conductivity and vast array of elements, they are thought to have powerful healing abilities and protect against many dangers.
Tourmaline
Nature's source of Far Infrared (FIR) and Negative Ions
http://www.ionizers.org/tourmaline.html
Now, as a mineral, it has become a focus of research at universities and research centers worldwide.
The reason - infrared Tourmaline is the only one mineral to show permanent electricity on the earth and is also a natural (non-manufactured) source of negative ions and far infrared (FIR) rays.
It is also known to be helpful for improving circulation, relieving stress, increasing mental alertness and strengthening the immune system function.
Around 1986, it was found in a research station in Japan that, even though tourmaline was broken down in smaller pieces, a positive and a negative electrode existed on both end of the crystal, and the electrodes never disappeared unless tourmaline was boiled near 1000°C. In addition, when the positive and the negative electrodes of a tourmaline crystal were connected to each other, it was proven to show low electricity of 0.06mA.
Tourmaline
http://www.ecplaza.net/product/159191_1 ... armer.html
Tourmaline’s special physical properties allow it to create a magnetic field (formation of anion), electrolysis water (activation of weak alkali materials and surfactant) and emit far infrared rays.
Tourmaline is the only mineral on earth that emits weak magnetic field permanently. Also, as a family of granite, it is found in the same earth layer as quartz, opal and garnet.
All About Electric or Magnetic Gems and Precious Stones
http://www.jjkent.com/.../phenomena-mag ... stones.htm
The electric or magnetic gems, tourmaline, amber, and loadstone, possess not only great scientific interest, but demonstrate the fact that a certain energy really does proceed from some of these fair, ornamental objects, an energy that produces a positive action from without upon the human body.
Gemstones & Gemology
http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/g ... ysical.htm
The ability of a mineral to conduct electricity is referred to as electroconductivity. This property is mostly characteristic of minerals with metallic bonding, such as gold, silver, and copper. Minerals with partial metallic bonding are semiconductors of electricity.
Most gem minerals lack metallic bonding and thus are nonconductors, with the exception of natural and synthetic blue diamonds that do conduct electricity.
Piezoelectricity, or pressure electricity, is found in minerals that have polar axes or lack a center of crystalline symmetry. The crystal axes have different properties at the opposite ends of the polar axis, and when pressure is exerted at these ends, electricity can flow creating opposite positive and negative ends. Quartz and tourmaline are piezoelectric. Pyroelectricity, or heat electricity, occurs in minerals with polar axes or lack the center of crystalline symmetry.