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Tourmaline is a group of minerals that can be described as follows:

• Composition: Tourmaline is a crystalline silicate mineral that contains boron and other elements like aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium.

• Color: Tourmaline can be colorless, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink, or a combination of colors. Some tourmalines are bi-colored or tri-colored.

• Hardness: Tourmaline has a hardness of 7.5 on the Moh's scale of mineral hardness.

• Properties: Tourmaline is pyroelectric, meaning it becomes electrically charged when heated. It can also exhibit a cat's-eye effect called chatoyancy.

• Classification: Tourmaline is a semiprecious gemstone, which means it's not as valuable as a precious gemstone.

• Uses: Tourmaline is used in electrical equipment.

• Birthstone: Tourmaline is the birthstone for October.

• Wedding anniversary: Tourmaline is the gem for an eighth wedding anniversary.

• Zodiac signs: Tourmaline is associated with the zodiac signs Libra and Scorpio.

• Origin: Tourmaline is mined in many places around the world, including Brazil, Africa, Afghanistan, the U.S., Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia, Madagascar, and Nigeria.

• Varieties: Some varieties of tourmaline include iron tourmaline (black), magnesium tourmaline (brown), and alkali tourmaline. Elbaite is a variety of tourmaline that is often transparent and very colorful. Watermelon tourmaline has a pink or red core with a green rind.