Schorl
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- Actinolite
- Adamite
- Agate
- Alabaster
- Albite
- Amazonite
- Amber (fossil)
- Amethyst
- Ametrine
- Ammonite (fossil)
- Andradite Garnet
- Angel Aura Quartz
- Angelite
- Apatite
- Apophyllite
- Aqua Aura Quartz
- Aquamarine
- Aurichalcite
- Australian Opals
- Austinite
- Aventurine
- Azurite
- Baker Geodes
- Bahia Amethyst
- Banded Amethyst
- Baltic Amber (fossil)
- Barite
- Beryl
- Black Kyanite
- Black Moonstone
- Black Onyx
- Black Opal
- Black Tourmaline (Schorl)
- Bloodstone
- Blue Fluorite
- Blue Lace Agate
- Blue Topaz
- Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite)
- Boulder Opal
- Botswana Agate
- Bronzite
- Bumblebee Jasper
- Cactus/Spirit/Faerie Quartz
- Calcite
- Carnelian
- Celestite
- Cerussite
- Chalcedony
- Charoite
- Chevron Amethyst
- Chiastolite
- Chrome Diopside
- Chrysocolla
- Citrine
- Clear Quartz
- Cobaltoan Calcite
- Conichalcite
- Copper
- Coral
- Coral (fossil)
- Covellite
- Crazy Lace Agate
- Crocoite
- Cuprite
- Cuprian Austinite
- Dalmatian Jasper
- Danburite
- Demantoid Garnet
- Dendritic Agate
- Descloisite
- Diamond
- Dinosaur Bone (fossil)
- Dioptase
- Dogtooth Calcite
- Dolostone
- Dragonsblood Jasper
- Emerald
- Epidote
- Ethiopian Emerald
- Ethiopian Opal
- Feldspar
- Flower Agate
- Fluorapatite
- Fluorite
- Fulgurite (Lechatelierite)
- Galena
- The Garnet Group
- Gaspeite
- Geodes
- Goethite
- Goldstone
- Green Apophyllite
- Green Aventurine
- Green Fluorite
- Green Moonstone
- Green Onyx
- Green Opal
- Green Tourmaline (Verdelite)
- Grossular Garnet
- Gypsum
- Gypsum - desert rose
- Hematite
- Hemimorphite
- Herkimer "diamond"
- Hessonite Garnet
- Himalayan Salt
- Hydroxyl-Clinohumite
- Iceland Spar Calcite Rhombus
- Idocrase
- Imperial Topaz
- Inclusion Quartz
- Indigo Gabbro
- Iolite
- Jacare Amethyst
- Jade, Nephrite, and Jadeite
- Jasper
- Jet
- K2 Jasper
- Kambaba Jasper
- Kiwi Jasper
- Kyanite
- Labradorite
- Lapis Lazuli
- Larimar
- Leaf (fossil)
- Lemurian quartz
- Lepidolite
- Lithium Quartz
- Lybian Desert Glass
- Malachite
- Magnetite
- Mangano Calcite
- Mexican Fire Opal
- Meteorite
- Mimetite
- Moldavite
- Montana Sapphire
- Mookaite Jasper
- Moonstone
- Morganite
- Moss Agate
- Mother-of-Pearl
- Mottramite
- Moqui Balls
- Mystic
- Obsidian - sheen
- Ocean Jasper
- Onyx
- Opal
- Opalina
- Opalite
- Orgonite
- Orpheus Agate
- Orpiment
- Orthoclase
- Peach Moonstone
- Pearl
- Petrified Wood (fossil)
- Peridot
- Phlogopite
- Pietersite
- Pink Moonstone
- Pink Opal
- Pinolith
- Porphyry
- Poppy Jasper
- Prasiolite (green Amethyst)
- Prehnite
- Puddingstone
- Purple Fluorite
- Pyrite
- Quartz
- Rainbow Moonstone
- Red Agate
- Red Flower Jasper
- Red Jasper
- Red Selenite
- Red Tiger Eye
- Rosasite
- Rhodochrocite
- Rhodonite
- Rose Quartz
- Ruby
- Ruby in Fuchite
- Ruby in Kyanite
- Ruby in Zoisite (Anyolite)
- Rutilated Quartz
- Sapphire
- Sand Dollar (fossil)
- Sandstone
- Sardonyx
- Schorl (Black Tourmaline)
- Sea Urchin (fossil)
- Sedona Jasper
- Sedona Sunrise
- Selenite
- Seraphinite
- Serpentine
- Septarian Calcite
- Shadow Amethyst
- Sheen Obsidian
- Shells (fossil)
- Shiva Lingham
- Shungite
- Silver Leaf Jasper
- Smithsonite
- Smoky Amethyst
- Smoky Quartz
- Snowflake Obsidian
- Sodalite
- Sonoran Sunrise
- Spencer Opal
- Spessartine Garnet
- Sphalerite
- Star Garnet
- Star Ruby
- Starfish (fossil)
- Staurolite Cross
- Stibnite
- Stilbite
- Stromatolite (fossil)
- Sunstone
- Super 7
- Tangerine Quartz
- Tanzanite
- Teeth (fossil)
- Tigers Eye
- Tiffany Stone
- Titanium Vapor Coated
- Trilobite (fossil)
- Tourmaline
- Tourmalinated Quartz
- Turquoise
- Umba Sapphire
- Unakite Jasper
- Uvarovite Garnet
- Variscite
- Vera Cruz Amethyst
- Vesuvianite
- Water Agate
- Watermelon Tourmaline
- Willow Creek Jasper
- Wulfenite
- Zandrite
- Zebra Jasper
- Zeolites
- Zoisite
Schorl is the black variety of tourmaline. The name is associated with the village of Zschorlau in Saxony Germany which was named "Schorl" prior to the year 1400. A tin mine with a lot of black tourmaline was located near the village. According to gemdat.com, Schorl was named after an old mining expression for "false ore". .
ï Mineral: Schorl aka black tourmaline
ï Chemistry: Na(Fe2+3)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
ï Class: Cyclosilicate
ï Crystal system: Hexagonal
ï Color: Bluish-black to black, sometimes brownish-black, rarely greenish-black.
ï Refractive index: 1.635 – 1.672
ï Luster: Vitreous, resinous
ï Specific gravity: 3.18-3.22
ï Mohs Hardness: 7
ï Cleavage: Poor/indistinct
ï Fracture: Irregular/uneven, sub-conchoidal
Schorl is pyroelectric - taking a charge when heated, and piezoelectric - forming a charge in response to pressure. It is strongly dichroic - changing color based on crystal orientation - yellow brown to pale yellow in one direction, pale brown. Schorl is the most common member of the Tourmaline group. It is one of the most aesthetic black minerals known. It can form in tiny needles within a Quartz crystal where it is known as Tourmalinated Quartz.
Schorl is a common constituent of granite and granite pegmatites, can be found in hydrothermal veins and metamorphic rocks, and is occasionally found as a detrital mineral.
The primary use of tourmaline in general is as a semi-precious gemstone. Tourmaline is a birthstone for the month of October and the gemstone of the 38th Anniversary.
Some of the locales from which specimens of Schorl are available at Taos Rockers are:
Namibia
Brazil
China
Pakistan
Idaho
Melody, in her book Love Is In The Earth, says “Black Tourmaline can be used to both repel and to protect against negativity...It provides for an increase in ones physical vitality, emotional stability, and intellectual acuity…As a protective stone...”
- Shop
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- New Mexico Minerals
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- Gift Cards
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- Info Pages
- Birthstones
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- Crystallography
- Crystal Habits
- Crystal Systems
- Geologic Time Scale
- Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
- Newsletter Archives
- Southwest Gem/ Mineral/ Rock Clubs
- Taos Rockers' Gem Safari
- Size Chart
- About
- Actinolite
- Adamite
- Agate
- Alabaster
- Albite
- Amazonite
- Amber (fossil)
- Amethyst
- Ametrine
- Ammonite (fossil)
- Andradite Garnet
- Angel Aura Quartz
- Angelite
- Apatite
- Apophyllite
- Aqua Aura Quartz
- Aquamarine
- Aurichalcite
- Australian Opals
- Austinite
- Aventurine
- Azurite
- Baker Geodes
- Bahia Amethyst
- Banded Amethyst
- Baltic Amber (fossil)
- Barite
- Beryl
- Black Kyanite
- Black Moonstone
- Black Onyx
- Black Opal
- Black Tourmaline (Schorl)
- Bloodstone
- Blue Fluorite
- Blue Lace Agate
- Blue Topaz
- Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite)
- Boulder Opal
- Botswana Agate
- Bronzite
- Bumblebee Jasper
- Cactus/Spirit/Faerie Quartz
- Calcite
- Carnelian
- Celestite
- Cerussite
- Chalcedony
- Charoite
- Chevron Amethyst
- Chiastolite
- Chrome Diopside
- Chrysocolla
- Citrine
- Clear Quartz
- Cobaltoan Calcite
- Conichalcite
- Copper
- Coral
- Coral (fossil)
- Covellite
- Crazy Lace Agate
- Crocoite
- Cuprite
- Cuprian Austinite
- Dalmatian Jasper
- Danburite
- Demantoid Garnet
- Dendritic Agate
- Descloisite
- Diamond
- Dinosaur Bone (fossil)
- Dioptase
- Dogtooth Calcite
- Dolostone
- Dragonsblood Jasper
- Emerald
- Epidote
- Ethiopian Emerald
- Ethiopian Opal
- Feldspar
- Flower Agate
- Fluorapatite
- Fluorite
- Fulgurite (Lechatelierite)
- Galena
- The Garnet Group
- Gaspeite
- Geodes
- Goethite
- Goldstone
- Green Apophyllite
- Green Aventurine
- Green Fluorite
- Green Moonstone
- Green Onyx
- Green Opal
- Green Tourmaline (Verdelite)
- Grossular Garnet
- Gypsum
- Gypsum - desert rose
- Hematite
- Hemimorphite
- Herkimer "diamond"
- Hessonite Garnet
- Himalayan Salt
- Hydroxyl-Clinohumite
- Iceland Spar Calcite Rhombus
- Idocrase
- Imperial Topaz
- Inclusion Quartz
- Indigo Gabbro
- Iolite
- Jacare Amethyst
- Jade, Nephrite, and Jadeite
- Jasper
- Jet
- K2 Jasper
- Kambaba Jasper
- Kiwi Jasper
- Kyanite
- Labradorite
- Lapis Lazuli
- Larimar
- Leaf (fossil)
- Lemurian quartz
- Lepidolite
- Lithium Quartz
- Lybian Desert Glass
- Malachite
- Magnetite
- Mangano Calcite
- Mexican Fire Opal
- Meteorite
- Mimetite
- Moldavite
- Montana Sapphire
- Mookaite Jasper
- Moonstone
- Morganite
- Moss Agate
- Mother-of-Pearl
- Mottramite
- Moqui Balls
- Mystic
- Obsidian - sheen
- Ocean Jasper
- Onyx
- Opal
- Opalina
- Opalite
- Orgonite
- Orpheus Agate
- Orpiment
- Orthoclase
- Peach Moonstone
- Pearl
- Petrified Wood (fossil)
- Peridot
- Phlogopite
- Pietersite
- Pink Moonstone
- Pink Opal
- Pinolith
- Porphyry
- Poppy Jasper
- Prasiolite (green Amethyst)
- Prehnite
- Puddingstone
- Purple Fluorite
- Pyrite
- Quartz
- Rainbow Moonstone
- Red Agate
- Red Flower Jasper
- Red Jasper
- Red Selenite
- Red Tiger Eye
- Rosasite
- Rhodochrocite
- Rhodonite
- Rose Quartz
- Ruby
- Ruby in Fuchite
- Ruby in Kyanite
- Ruby in Zoisite (Anyolite)
- Rutilated Quartz
- Sapphire
- Sand Dollar (fossil)
- Sandstone
- Sardonyx
- Schorl (Black Tourmaline)
- Sea Urchin (fossil)
- Sedona Jasper
- Sedona Sunrise
- Selenite
- Seraphinite
- Serpentine
- Septarian Calcite
- Shadow Amethyst
- Sheen Obsidian
- Shells (fossil)
- Shiva Lingham
- Shungite
- Silver Leaf Jasper
- Smithsonite
- Smoky Amethyst
- Smoky Quartz
- Snowflake Obsidian
- Sodalite
- Sonoran Sunrise
- Spencer Opal
- Spessartine Garnet
- Sphalerite
- Star Garnet
- Star Ruby
- Starfish (fossil)
- Staurolite Cross
- Stibnite
- Stilbite
- Stromatolite (fossil)
- Sunstone
- Super 7
- Tangerine Quartz
- Tanzanite
- Teeth (fossil)
- Tigers Eye
- Tiffany Stone
- Titanium Vapor Coated
- Trilobite (fossil)
- Tourmaline
- Tourmalinated Quartz
- Turquoise
- Umba Sapphire
- Unakite Jasper
- Uvarovite Garnet
- Variscite
- Vera Cruz Amethyst
- Vesuvianite
- Water Agate
- Watermelon Tourmaline
- Willow Creek Jasper
- Wulfenite
- Zandrite
- Zebra Jasper
- Zeolites
- Zoisite
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- Shop
- Holiday Gift Certificates
- SALE
- NEW
- New Mexico Minerals
- Minerals
- Fossils
- Energy Tools
- Jewelry
- Gems & Cabs
- Home Decor
- Books & Games
- Sets & Kits
- Decorative Carvings & Shapes
- Gift Cards
- Blog
- Info Pages
- Birthstones
- Chakras
- Crystallography
- Crystal Habits
- Crystal Systems
- Geologic Time Scale
- Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
- Newsletter Archives
- Southwest Gem/ Mineral/ Rock Clubs
- Taos Rockers' Gem Safari
- Size Chart
- About
- Actinolite
- Adamite
- Agate
- Alabaster
- Albite
- Amazonite
- Amber (fossil)
- Amethyst
- Ametrine
- Ammonite (fossil)
- Andradite Garnet
- Angel Aura Quartz
- Angelite
- Apatite
- Apophyllite
- Aqua Aura Quartz
- Aquamarine
- Aurichalcite
- Australian Opals
- Austinite
- Aventurine
- Azurite
- Baker Geodes
- Bahia Amethyst
- Banded Amethyst
- Baltic Amber (fossil)
- Barite
- Beryl
- Black Kyanite
- Black Moonstone
- Black Onyx
- Black Opal
- Black Tourmaline (Schorl)
- Bloodstone
- Blue Fluorite
- Blue Lace Agate
- Blue Topaz
- Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite)
- Boulder Opal
- Botswana Agate
- Bronzite
- Bumblebee Jasper
- Cactus/Spirit/Faerie Quartz
- Calcite
- Carnelian
- Celestite
- Cerussite
- Chalcedony
- Charoite
- Chevron Amethyst
- Chiastolite
- Chrome Diopside
- Chrysocolla
- Citrine
- Clear Quartz
- Cobaltoan Calcite
- Conichalcite
- Copper
- Coral
- Coral (fossil)
- Covellite
- Crazy Lace Agate
- Crocoite
- Cuprite
- Cuprian Austinite
- Dalmatian Jasper
- Danburite
- Demantoid Garnet
- Dendritic Agate
- Descloisite
- Diamond
- Dinosaur Bone (fossil)
- Dioptase
- Dogtooth Calcite
- Dolostone
- Dragonsblood Jasper
- Emerald
- Epidote
- Ethiopian Emerald
- Ethiopian Opal
- Feldspar
- Flower Agate
- Fluorapatite
- Fluorite
- Fulgurite (Lechatelierite)
- Galena
- The Garnet Group
- Gaspeite
- Geodes
- Goethite
- Goldstone
- Green Apophyllite
- Green Aventurine
- Green Fluorite
- Green Moonstone
- Green Onyx
- Green Opal
- Green Tourmaline (Verdelite)
- Grossular Garnet
- Gypsum
- Gypsum - desert rose
- Hematite
- Hemimorphite
- Herkimer "diamond"
- Hessonite Garnet
- Himalayan Salt
- Hydroxyl-Clinohumite
- Iceland Spar Calcite Rhombus
- Idocrase
- Imperial Topaz
- Inclusion Quartz
- Indigo Gabbro
- Iolite
- Jacare Amethyst
- Jade, Nephrite, and Jadeite
- Jasper
- Jet
- K2 Jasper
- Kambaba Jasper
- Kiwi Jasper
- Kyanite
- Labradorite
- Lapis Lazuli
- Larimar
- Leaf (fossil)
- Lemurian quartz
- Lepidolite
- Lithium Quartz
- Lybian Desert Glass
- Malachite
- Magnetite
- Mangano Calcite
- Mexican Fire Opal
- Meteorite
- Mimetite
- Moldavite
- Montana Sapphire
- Mookaite Jasper
- Moonstone
- Morganite
- Moss Agate
- Mother-of-Pearl
- Mottramite
- Moqui Balls
- Mystic
- Obsidian - sheen
- Ocean Jasper
- Onyx
- Opal
- Opalina
- Opalite
- Orgonite
- Orpheus Agate
- Orpiment
- Orthoclase
- Peach Moonstone
- Pearl
- Petrified Wood (fossil)
- Peridot
- Phlogopite
- Pietersite
- Pink Moonstone
- Pink Opal
- Pinolith
- Porphyry
- Poppy Jasper
- Prasiolite (green Amethyst)
- Prehnite
- Puddingstone
- Purple Fluorite
- Pyrite
- Quartz
- Rainbow Moonstone
- Red Agate
- Red Flower Jasper
- Red Jasper
- Red Selenite
- Red Tiger Eye
- Rosasite
- Rhodochrocite
- Rhodonite
- Rose Quartz
- Ruby
- Ruby in Fuchite
- Ruby in Kyanite
- Ruby in Zoisite (Anyolite)
- Rutilated Quartz
- Sapphire
- Sand Dollar (fossil)
- Sandstone
- Sardonyx
- Schorl (Black Tourmaline)
- Sea Urchin (fossil)
- Sedona Jasper
- Sedona Sunrise
- Selenite
- Seraphinite
- Serpentine
- Septarian Calcite
- Shadow Amethyst
- Sheen Obsidian
- Shells (fossil)
- Shiva Lingham
- Shungite
- Silver Leaf Jasper
- Smithsonite
- Smoky Amethyst
- Smoky Quartz
- Snowflake Obsidian
- Sodalite
- Sonoran Sunrise
- Spencer Opal
- Spessartine Garnet
- Sphalerite
- Star Garnet
- Star Ruby
- Starfish (fossil)
- Staurolite Cross
- Stibnite
- Stilbite
- Stromatolite (fossil)
- Sunstone
- Super 7
- Tangerine Quartz
- Tanzanite
- Teeth (fossil)
- Tigers Eye
- Tiffany Stone
- Titanium Vapor Coated
- Trilobite (fossil)
- Tourmaline
- Tourmalinated Quartz
- Turquoise
- Umba Sapphire
- Unakite Jasper
- Uvarovite Garnet
- Variscite
- Vera Cruz Amethyst
- Vesuvianite
- Water Agate
- Watermelon Tourmaline
- Willow Creek Jasper
- Wulfenite
- Zandrite
- Zebra Jasper
- Zeolites
- Zoisite