Paraïba reloaded
The debate about correct
nomenclature, which was sparked by the discovery of a new tourmaline deposit in Moçambique, seems to have come to
an end. Traders, gemmologists and appraisers the world over have agreed to call all copper-bearing elbaïtes Paraïba
Tourmalines, regardless of their actual origin.
The history of the debate:
In 1989 exceptionally vivid tourmalines were
discovered in the brazilian federal state of Paraïba. From a mineralogical viewpoint they belonged to the
tourmaline species of elbaїte albeit (pardon the pun) with a copper content of up to 2.3% which is
responsible for the exciting colours of these gems.
Thereupon CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation defined Paraïba Tourmalines as green to
blue cupriferous (copper-bearing) tourmalines without adressing the issue of origin, which, admittedly, was not an
issue at that time.
Discussions
started with the discovery of tourmalines in Nigeria which are not nearly as attractive as the brazilian stones and
are easily identifiable by their content of lead. The thing is they do also contain copper and thus are marketed by
some as Paraïba Tourmalines up to this day – law- if not rightfully so according to the current state of
affairs.
In the autumn of 2005
a tourmaline deposit was eventually discovered in Moçambique, the best stones of which can
compete with the original Paraïba Tourmalines from Brazil.
After heated debates as to
whether the term "Paraïba" should be confined to the brazilian stones or whether all cupriferous tourmalines could
(and should) be referred to as such, regardless of origin, an agreement seems to have been
found.
Influential bodies like
CIBJO, LMHC (Laboratoy Manual Harmonization Committee), GIA (Gemological Institue of America) and AGTA (American
Gem Traders Association) have agreed to refer to all cupriferous elbaїte tourmalines as " Paraïba
Tourmalines".
In their
certificates the gemmological laboratories of the world do treat the issue somewhat
differentially.
The species is
always stated as " Elbaïte Tourmaline". The variety is specified by Gübelin as "Paraïba", by AGTA as "blue" or
"green" tourmaline. SSEF (Swiss Gemmologial Association) and GIA do not specify variety at
all.
Origin is not always
specified. All labs, however, do point out in commentaries that these gems are called "Paraïba" by the trade and
that they do not necessarily originate from the state of Paraïba in Brazil.
Interestingly enough the autumn 2007 issue of GIA´s quarterly
journal "Gems & Gemology" reports the discovery of two new elbaїte (or Paraïba) tourmaline mines in Brazil.
Both the "Glorious Mine" and the "Mineraçao Batalha Mine" are located just a few miles from the site of the
original deposit, the "Mina de Batalha".
Unfortunately so far only the Glorious Mine produces facettable gem quality. Quantity and
size, as well, leave much to be desired. At the time of writing only about 100pcs with an average weight of only
about 0.20cts had been cut. Colours, however, are just as exciting as those of the original
find.
We wish the japanese
operators of the Glorious Mine all the luck and hope that productivity and size will rise dramatically and that
prices for these truly amazing gems will fall to more accessible levels soon.
