Smooth, tumbled tourmaline quartz stones in which black tourmaline needles run through clear quartz. The larger 3–4 cm size makes a lovely palm stone or collector’s piece.
The stone of tourmaline quartz
Tourmaline quartz is clear or lightly smoky quartz threaded with the needle-like crystals of black tourmaline (schorl); its Mohs hardness is around 7. The contrast of pale quartz and dark tourmaline needles draws a different, striking pattern in every piece. In crystal lore it is known as a stone uniting tourmaline’s protective, grounding nature with rock crystal’s clarifying quality, and tradition links it with balance and steadying clarity.
The tumbled form
Tumbled stones gain their smooth, rounded surface through long polishing, which makes them sit pleasantly in the palm – a favourite as a pocket stone and meditation piece. This selection is A quality: as a natural mineral, each piece can differ in shade, pattern and clarity, and every stone is unique. Pieces typically range between 3 and 4 cm.
Ways to use it
At the larger 3–4 cm size, tourmaline quartz makes a lovely palm stone or collector’s piece; it looks beautiful on a desk or in a crystal corner. Its black-and-white contrast brings a striking, lively detail to a space.
Care and good to know
This is a durable mineral, yet it is worth protecting from knocks and abrasive surfaces and storing apart from other stones. Now and then you can rinse it under lukewarm water and pat it dry with a soft cloth.