By Chisom Ibemere
Rubellite is a variety of tourmaline, a mineral that has been known and used for centuries. It is reddish or pinkish in colour and a member of elbaite. It is also the rarest gem in its family and occasionally mistaken for ruby.
The name “rubellite” comes from the Latin word “rubellus,” which means “reddish,” resulting from it’s colour. It is found in many locations around the world, including Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Afghanistan, and the United States. It is often found in granite rocks, pegmatites, and as an accessory mineral in metamorphic rocks.
Rubellite is basically used as a gemstone and is highly valued for its beautiful color. It is also believed to have healing properties and is used in alternative medicine practice.
It has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable and suitable for use in jewelry. It has a trigonal crystal system and a specific gravity of 3.06 to 3.25. Rubellite is typically pink to red in color, but can also be found in shades of brown, yellow, green, and blue.
Rubellite is a highly valuable gemstone and can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per carat, depending on the quality and color.
The global market for gemstones, including rubellite, was valued at around $22 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow in the coming years.
Rubellite is the most expensive and highly prized gem in the tourmaline family. The most valuable stones are red in colour and lack brown.
