The unusual black schorl tourmaline is perhaps the most mysterious stone in the world. There are many legends and beliefs about it; since ancient times, the mineral has been used in magical rituals. It is believed that if the crystal is properly “charged”, it can work a miracle. It is also popular among people who are far from esotericism and magic. Faceted schorl has amazing optical properties. Jewelry with dark stones looks impressive and unusual.
Black tourmaline - history
Black stone came to Europe at the border of the 17th and 18th centuries. It was brought from Ceylon by traders. In those days, a rare stone in Rome was valued quite dearly and was popular, but in the East it was purchased for next to nothing. The fashion for black stone spread.
In Rome and Greece it was worn as a mourning decoration. Thanks to its velvety blackness, traders sold it either as a talisman or as a jewel that gives strength and health.
At the same time, the sherl stone acquired the fame of a witch. Its magical properties began to be used by healers, sorcerers, astrologers, and fortune tellers.
People could not explain the beneficial, calming effect of schorl energy. Inexplicable was, for example, the low incidence of illness among miners mining tourmaline ore.
The stone had the status of a precious stone until its own deposit was discovered in Germany. After which tourmalines fell in price.
However, scherl or black tourmaline still proudly bears the name of a gemstone if it is a good crystal in decent processing.
How to distinguish from a fake
The stone is often counterfeited. To buy a high-quality natural gem, you should consider a number of features:
- The main difference lies in the fact that natural stone cannot be scratched. This is due to the high hardness parameters on the Mohs scale. Glass or plastic cannot boast of such indicators.
- The black mineral can become electrified when heated. As a result, it attracts various objects. These include ashes, paper, hair. At the same time, the crystals cannot be heated too much, as this will lead to the appearance of cracks. It is enough to hold them in your hands for a little while.
- The natural mineral has a rich hue. It is also characterized by pleochroism, or the play of light. Glass looks more inconspicuous.
This mineral has magical properties and is able to heal people. It also has excellent decorative qualities. Thanks to this, the gem is very popular.
Meaning
Historians have two versions of the origin of the name “sherl”. The first considers the source of the settlement of Scherlau, where the first German mines for the extraction of tourmaline were created. The second prefers the colloquial language version of Schörl “schorl” - the word that miners used to designate rock or slag.
Until the 19th century, all tourmalines were called “sherl”, prefixing the name with the color of the stone. So there was a pink sherl, a green sherl and a black sherl.
Later, the common noun “Sherl” became a proper name and began to belong exclusively to the black stone of this family. The rest remained under the name “tourmaline”.
Composition and properties of the stone
Schorl stone has a complex chemical composition and belongs to ring borosilicates, while other tourmalines are called aluminosilicates.
In addition to aluminum, boron and silicon, the crystal lattice of black tourmaline includes divalent iron and sodium. The stone owes its impenetrable black color to the last two metals.
The stone has a crystalline structure, is completely opaque, and is capable of absorbing light rays. The crystals are long, in the form of needles or triangular prisms, oriented parallel.
Physical properties of black tourmaline:
- At the fracture, the stone is heterogeneous; deep shading is clearly visible.
- The crystal lattice is ditrigonal-pyramidal.
- There is no cleavage or luminescence.
- Glass shine.
- Hardness is within 7-7.5.
- The density of the stone ranges from 3.02 to 3.26 g per cm3.
A distinctive feature is the ability to acquire a pronounced electromagnetic charge, with a clear distinction between plus and minus. The scorl is magnetized by friction and the heat of the human body. Black stone has the ability to redirect light rays, polarizing them.
Price
Thanks to the many deposits, the price of tourmaline is low , the lower barrier starts from 160 rubles for a stone of 2-3 cm.
Collectible stones over 10 cm cost from 20 thousand rubles. Egg-shaped unprocessed crystals sell from 27 thousand rubles.
The price of jewelry depends on the metal of the frame and adjacent stones . The cheapest frames are bronze, cupronickel and medical alloy. On average, the cost ranges from 800 to 6000 rubles.
Field
The schorl stone is not rare. Its deposits have been found on every continent.
There are tourmaline mines in the following countries:
- Europe (Germany, Italy, Switzerland);
- USA (Maine, Colorado, California);
- in Mexico;
- in Brazil;
- in Afghanistan and Tajikistan;
- in India, Sri Lanka;
- in South Africa;
- In Canada;
- on the Australian continent.
In Russia, schorl is mined in Karelia, Transbaikalia, and the Kola Peninsula.
The mineral is of hydrothermal origin. Its crystals are formed deep in the earth's crust under the influence of high pressure and hot aqueous solutions. Sherl is a granitic pegmatite, found in nature in the form of large and huge veins.
Varieties, colors
Tourmaline quartz
The color is rich, deep, velvety black. Sherl may have a bluish sheen due to the iron it contains, but this is not typical. In nature, there are crystals of transparent quartz (tourmaline quartz), pierced with needles of black tourmaline.
It should be noted that Sherl is not positioned as an exclusively jewelry stone. The scope of its use is much wider.
Magic properties
Already in the Middle Ages, scherl was credited with magical powers. Despite the impenetrable blackness, the stone has a positive effect. Its vibrations resonate with the vibrations of a person, its energy enhances the energy of the owner.
Here are the magical properties attributed to black tourmaline:
- When worn on the chest or near the heart, the stone outlines a protective field through which neither the evil eye, nor damage, nor condemnation, nor human envy penetrates.
- Cleanses the Sherl stone and the owner himself. Those who wear it constantly become purer in their thoughts, gain the opportunity to meditate and communicate with higher powers.
- He helps those who are depressed, angry or resentful.
- Black tourmaline heals human energy and through this heals physical ailments.
Note! Although sherl is often called the “witch’s stone,” its main purpose is protection from evil spirits and human malice.
It is believed that only a strong person with pure thoughts can wear a sherl stone. It deprives people with a black soul of vitality.
The magical power of the stone brings prosperity to the home of an enterprising person. Magicians claim that owners of Sherla, whether male or female, always make the right decisions regarding investments, choice of activities or partners, and purchase of real estate.
The magical power of the black sherl actively helps when traveling. The stone synchronizes a person’s biorhythms with his place of residence. This helps to quickly and painlessly adapt to changing time zones, to a new climate or continent.
Medicinal properties
Official medicine uses black tourmaline only as components of medical devices, where the stone is used to polarize light or in temperature and pressure sensors.
The medicinal use of schorl among traditional healers is much more extensive. Their experience shows that with the help of a witch stone they cure:
- female anemia and weakness after childbirth;
- male age-related ailments associated with sexual dysfunction;
- nervous diseases;
- disruption of the hormonal system;
- addiction to tobacco and alcohol;
- mental illness.
Black tourmaline plays an important role in strengthening the immune system. Those who wear it constantly are protected from flu and colds in the off-season. The radiation of the stone has a positive effect on the activity of the heart and blood circulation.
Artificial scorl
They learned how to produce tourmaline in the laboratory in 1993, but the idea did not justify itself - the process was too complicated and expensive. Therefore, stone is not made for technical needs.
The only production line is the production of multi-colored (pink and red) minerals, which are used to decorate crowns and tiaras, necklaces and rings . Such products are sold from 40 thousand rubles, the price depends on the size and the resulting shade.
Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?
Although anyone can experience the effects of tourmaline, schorl is the stone of the brightest signs of the zodiac. It is on them that it manifests itself to the maximum.
The horoscope recommends five signs to constantly wear tourmaline:
- to hardworking and stubborn Capricorns and somewhat pacify their ambition.
- Aries will be helped to curb the exorbitant lust for power, which at times blurs the eyes and leads to wrong decisions.
- fair Sagittarius to withstand human malice.
- It will calm down explosive Scorpios somewhat and “land” where necessary, helping them climb to the top of their success.
- Leos will be given the desire to work with pleasure.
The favorites out of these five are Capricorns and Scorpios. Sherl will help these signs in their perseverance to achieve everything in life with their mind and hands.
Representatives of other zodiac signs can wear jewelry with this mineral occasionally, putting it on for several hours. There are no prohibited signs, but the stone should be removed from children.
Wearing rules
Jewelry with it is contraindicated for children. For women, the stone can be placed under the pillow.
When planning to buy products with black tourmaline, you should understand that this is the patron of strong personalities. Otherwise, you should not expect protection from him.
- It is best to wear rings on the right hand. Jewelry is worn on the index finger, on the left - on the middle finger. The magical power of a crystal increases if it is set in gold.
- The stone is a protector from energy vampires. Products made from it can be installed on the desktop, only in this way will it be possible to get rid of unpleasant personalities and harmful computer radiation.
Decorations
Black tourmaline is used to make two types of jewelry. In the first case, the stone is left with its natural structure. These jewelry have an elongated shape, a surface with a pronounced stroke and a crystalline structure. As a rule, untreated stone is used in “solo” jewelry.
The second type of jewelry is polished stone, which is subjected to special processing. Here the shape can be oval, semicircular. The stone becomes matte, smooth and combines well with other minerals in one piece of jewelry.
All types of women's jewelry are made from black tourmaline, but it is more of a masculine mineral. Rings, cufflinks, rosaries, pins with black sherl - these are the things that men especially love.
Areas of use
The ease of extraction, numerous deposits and the unusual appearance of schorl made it popular.
Proven medicinal properties allow the use of black tourmaline in health institutions.
Jewelry
The stone does not require serious processing, but due to its color it is not very popular among jewelers.
It is used for decorations:
- brooches;
- earring;
- rings;
- necklaces;
- pendants;
- tiara
Most often, tourmaline is combined with men's jewelry - signets, heavy rings, cufflinks and tie clips. In the female version, it is usually complemented with bright and light gems.
Decor
Most often, tourmaline serves as a finishing material . Mosaics, tiles, and parts of grave monuments are made from it. Magic balls and office decorations such as paperweights are also made from scherl.
Other areas
Since the stone has its own electrical charge and conducts current, it is used in the assembly of relays, sensors and valves. In medical institutions, schorl is used in wards for air ionization and Chizhevsky lamps.
Reviews
Reviews were taken from the mineralogical forum.
Olga, 32 years old:
“A friend gave me black tourmaline beads for my birthday. I somehow immediately noticed that they seemed to be warm, but I didn’t pay attention. Then a friend told me that this is my stone because I am a Scorpio.
She specifically looked for these for me, since I have a problem with the thyroid gland. Before this, everyone advised wearing amber. I won’t say that I’ve been directly healed, but it seems to me that I’ve become calmer, not as overexcited and won’t get hysterical over trifles as I was before.”
Victoria, 45 years old:
“After moving to a new apartment, I noticed that as soon as a neighbor comes to go for a walk, quarrels begin in the house or dishes fall out of our hands. And she is such a persistent woman that it is impossible to discourage her.
In the store I bought a talisman for the house with a black sherl. As soon as I hung it in the hallway, I immediately noticed that the neighbor no longer stayed for long, and soon she stopped coming in altogether.”
Denis, 27 years old:
“I liked the ring with a black stone right away, despite the fact that it seems undignified to buy an inexpensive one. As soon as I tried it on, I immediately realized that it was mine.
Then a friend said that black tourmaline was my horoscope stone. I advise Capricorns to feel comfortable and confident with him. And the ring looks very solid.”
