Paraíba Tourmaline: History, Properties and Characteristics

Published on February 12, 2023 · Updated on October 12, 2026

Home » Gemstones: A Comprehensive Guide » Paraíba Tourmaline: History, Properties and Characteristics

Paraíba tourmaline is a variety of tourmaline that comes in neon blue, blue-green or green, and is one of the rarest and most highly prized gemstones in the world. In this guide, you’ll learn about the history of its discovery in Brazil, its gemmological properties and characteristics, why it has this colour, its origin (Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique), treatments, value, use in jewellery and care. There is an FAQ at the end.

The colour comes from copper, a rare element in tourmalines, and the gemstone takes its name from the Brazilian state where it was first discovered. Since then, it has become synonymous with ‘electric’ blue in jewellery.

The history of Paraíba tourmaline

The story begins in Paraíba, in north-eastern Brazil. According to the GIA, in 1982, the miner and prospector Heitor Dimas Barbosa noticed small patches in samples of pegmatite shown to him by a local miner. The ‘electric’-coloured and ‘sapphire’-blue tourmalines were not discovered until August 1987, and the material reached the international market in 1989.

The site is the Batalha Mine, in the Serra da Frade, about 4.5 km north-east of Salgadinho and near the village of São José da Batalha. The first crystals were mined in 1989, and the Brazilian deposits appear to have been exhausted about five years later, according to the US National Museum of Natural History. Later, deposits in neighbouring Rio Grande do Norte were identified, and in 2014 the GIA reported that mining and prospecting were still active in both states.

In the early 2000s, copper-bearing tourmalines of similar colours were discovered in Nigeria and, shortly afterwards, in Mozambique. Sources differ as to the exact dates: the GIA states that both were found ‘at the beginning of the 21st century’, the Smithsonian cites 2001 for Nigeria, and a GIA summary mentions 2001 for the first discovery in Mozambique, with the copper only being recognised in 2003.

The issue of the name has also made history. The term ‘Paraíba’ was accepted as a trade name by CIBJO in 1999. In 2006, the International Conference of Gemmological Laboratories and the LMHC accepted ‘Paraíba tourmaline’ as a variety name, regardless of geographical origin. Today, most laboratories refer to all copper-bearing elbaite as Paraíba tourmaline, whilst the report states the origin separately.

Geologically, tourmalines originate from pegmatites in the Borborema Province, in north-eastern Brazil, a belt of Neoproterozoic rocks enriched in lithium, caesium and copper.

Video about Paraíba tourmaline

Turmalina Paraíba - Valiosa e Rara03:06

Como Identificar a Turmalina Paraíba03:41

Why does Paraíba tourmaline have this colour?

Paraíba tourmaline is an elbaite (a species of tourmaline) coloured by copper. The copper ion (Cu²⁺) absorbs red and yellow light and allows blue and green light to pass through, giving it its ‘turquoise’ and ‘neon’ hues. Manganese (Mn³⁺) adds shades of violet, purple and pink: the higher the proportion of manganese relative to copper, the more violet the blue becomes.

The copper content is very high for a silicate that does not contain copper in its chemical formula. A GIA study measured copper levels of up to around 1.9 per cent (2.38 per cent CuO) in a green stone, amongst the highest values ever recorded in silicates of this type. Unlike other blue tourmalines, such as indicolite, Paraíba tourmaline is distinguished precisely by the presence of copper.

Properties and gemmological characteristics

Species and variety: elbaite (tourmaline) with copper;
Hardness: 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, with moderate toughness; in other words, it is not as resistant to impact as sapphire;
Index of refraction: ranges from approximately 1.60 to 1.65 (for stones from the Batalha Mine, from 1.618 to 1.646);
Birefringence: between approximately 0.013 and 0.025, and the ‘doubling’ effect is usually visible under a magnifying glass;
Density: between approximately 2.84 and 3.12 (average close to 3.05);
Optical character: negative uniaxial;
Lustre: vitreous; transparency: transparent to translucent;
Fluorescence: inert to faint under ultraviolet light;
Colours: ranging from blue-violet to neon blue, blue-green and green, with rare shades of violet, purple and pink.

Paraíba tourmaline does not glow in the dark. The ‘neon’ effect is visual, resulting from a highly saturated colour.

Colours of Paraíba tourmaline

In the retail sector, these shades are given names such as ‘neon’, ‘electric’, ‘turquoise’, ‘sapphire’, ‘tanzanite’, ‘mint’ and ‘emerald’. The main factor determining value is the saturation of the colour, which the IGS (International Gem Society) rates on a scale from 4 (moderately strong) to 6 (vivid). An elbaite with a saturation of 5 or higher is highly likely to be Paraíba. Another tourmaline that comes close to this level is chromium tourmaline, but it has a higher refractive index and much lower birefringence.

Turmalinas Paraíba lapidadas em diferentes nuances de cor — Cut Paraíba tourmalines in various shades

Origin: Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique

Brazil: the states of Paraíba (Batalha Mine) and Rio Grande do Norte. This is the classic variety, with a very saturated colour and higher copper content than the African varieties (the GIA cites an average of around 11,400 ppm of copper in Brazilian stones, compared with less than 2,000 ppm in African ones);
Nigeria: generally with less saturated colours than in Brazil, although the colours overlap;
Mozambique: colours similar to those of Brazil.

The origin often cannot be determined without laboratory analysis. GIA uses LA-ICP-MS trace element analysis, comparing the samples with those from known locations, and issues an ‘inconclusive’ result when the profile falls within the ranges. The origin affects the price, and African material usually costs less than Brazilian material of comparable quality.

Paraíba tourmaline treatments

Heating: is the most common treatment, according to the IGS. In tests carried out by the GIA, heating to around 550 °C reduces the manganese content and causes the purplish-blue colour to turn pale blue. The ‘emerald’ green colour was only observed in heated material. The colour is stable and virtually undetectable by standard methods;
Laser drilling and fracture filling: these occur occasionally. Such treatments reduce the value compared with a similar untreated stone, and must be disclosed.

For high-value purchases, ask for a gemmological laboratory report, including details of the stone’s origin and any treatment it has undergone.

Cut, size and rarity

The crystals usually emerge fractured from the mine, which is why facetted Paraíba tourmalines rarely exceed a few carats. Fine-coloured stones weighing more than 5 carats are exceptional, and those weighing more than 2 carats are already scarce. Gem cutters aim to make the best use of the stone’s weight and colour, and a faceted cut at the correct angles allows light to enter the gem and be reflected back to the eye. As it is difficult to find two identical stones, creating matching pairs for earrings is a challenge.

The Smithsonian holds a 310-carat rough Paraíba crystal, with an intense blue-green colour; it is the first crystal of its kind in the US National Gem Collection.

Value of Paraíba tourmaline

The price depends on the colour (saturation), origin, weight, clarity and cut, and there are price jumps at around 1, 2 and 5 carats. To understand these criteria, see the post on the 4 diamond classifications, which also apply, with some adaptations, to coloured gemstones.

In 1990, large, flawless stones were already fetching more than $1,000 per carat, according to the GIA. Prices rose rapidly: according to the IGS, they soon exceeded $20,000 per carat for the finest stones. Today, for the finest Brazilian stones weighing over 1 carat, retailers quote prices in the tens of thousands of dollars per carat, but prices vary widely and there is no official price list. As production is low and demand is high, the gemstone is considered rare.

Turmalina Paraíba uma das gemas mais raras — Paraíba tourmaline, one of the rarest gemstones

Paraíba tourmaline in jewellery

Due to its rarity, Paraíba tourmaline is usually set in exclusive pieces, such as rings, pendants and earrings. As the crystal is often small and fractured, the jewellery design generally follows the shape of the stone. To find out more about this family of gemstones, see the post on tourmaline, and to compare it with other blue and greenish gemstones, see sapphire, aquamarine and emerald. Bahia also has a long tradition of gemstones, and the post on Pindobaçu tells the story of the state’s ‘emerald capital’.

Caring for Paraíba tourmaline

Cleaning: warm water with mild soap. The GIA does not recommend ultrasonic cleaning or steam cleaning;
Heat: intense heat can cause discolouration, and sudden changes in temperature can cause the stone to crack;
Light and chemicals: tourmaline is generally stable when exposed to light and chemicals;
Care: as its hardness is average, avoid knocks, particularly against fractured stones. Store the jewellery separately from harder gemstones, which may scratch it.

Sources consulted

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paraíba tourmaline?

It is a copper-coloured elbaite (tourmaline), which comes in neon blue, blue-green or green. The name comes from the state of Paraíba, where the gemstone was first discovered in the late 1980s.

Who discovered Paraíba tourmaline?

According to the GIA, the prospector Heitor Dimas Barbosa first noticed the initial specks in 1982, and the ‘electric’ blue stones were discovered in 1987 at the Batalha Mine. The material reached the international market in 1989.

What are the properties of Paraíba tourmaline?

Hardness of 7 to 7.5, refractive index between approximately 1.60 and 1.65, birefringence of 0.013 to 0.025, density of 2.84 to 3.12, vitreous lustre and a negative uniaxial system.

Why is Paraíba tourmaline neon blue?

This is because of the copper, which absorbs red and yellow. Manganese adds shades of violet and pink. The stone does not glow in the dark: the ‘neon’ effect comes from its highly saturated colour.

Is Paraíba tourmaline only found in Brazil?

No. GIA and IGS also register copper-bearing tourmalines from Nigeria and Mozambique. Today, most laboratories refer to all copper-bearing elbaite as ‘Paraíba’ and state the origin separately.

How can you tell where a Paraíba tourmaline comes from?

Only through laboratory analysis. GIA uses LA-ICP-MS to measure trace elements such as copper, zinc, gallium, strontium, tin and lead, and compares them with samples of known origin. If the profile is ambiguous, the result is ‘inconclusive’.

Is Paraíba tourmaline treated?

Many undergo heating, which is usually stable and difficult to detect. Laser drilling and fracture filling occur occasionally. Request a report containing details of the treatment.

How much does Paraíba tourmaline cost?

It depends on colour, origin, weight and clarity, and there is no official price list. In 1990, large, flawless stones fetched over a thousand dollars per carat, and today the finest Brazilian stones can cost tens of thousands of dollars per carat.

Why is it so rare?

Brazilian deposits yielded little and appear to have been exhausted around five years after their discovery. Furthermore, the crystals are usually found fractured, and faceted stones weighing more than 5 carats with good colour are exceptional.

How should you clean and look after jewellery featuring Paraíba tourmaline?

Use warm water and mild soap. Avoid ultrasound, steam, intense heat and sudden changes in temperature, and store the item separately from harder gemstones.

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →