Paraiba-Type Tourmaline
Mozambican copper-bearing tourmaline with neon blue-green colours - discovery, characteristics, and the origin terminology debate.
mozambique paraiba tourmaline copper-bearing
Introduction
Mozambique emerged as a major source of copper-bearing tourmaline in 2005,
producing material with the characteristic neon blue-green colours
previously known only from Brazil and Nigeria. This discovery expanded
availability while sparking debate about what constitutes "Paraiba."
Discovery
Mozambique's copper-bearing tourmaline:
- Year: 2005
- Location: Alto Ligonha region, Zambezia Province
- Significance: Major copper-bearing tourmaline source
- Impact: Dramatically increased availability of neon tourmaline
- Production: Ongoing from multiple deposits
Characteristics
Properties of Mozambican material:
Colour
- Range: Neon blue to blue-green to green
- Character: Electric, glowing appearance
- Chromophore: Copper (same as Brazilian Paraiba)
- Manganese: May add violet/pink tones
Quality Factors
- Sizes: Generally larger than Brazilian
- Clarity: Often cleaner than Brazilian
- Saturation: Excellent neon effect possible
- Treatment: Heat treatment common to improve colour
Comparison with Brazilian
Brazilian Paraiba
- Original source (1989)
- Generally smaller sizes
- More included typically
- Higher copper content often
- Significant origin premium
- Production nearly exhausted
Mozambican Paraiba-type
- Discovered 2005
- Larger sizes available
- Often cleaner material
- Same copper chromophore
- Lower prices; growing acceptance
- Ongoing production
The Origin Debate
Market Terminology
How the trade describes this material:
- "Paraiba tourmaline": LMHC-approved for copper-bearing material
- "Paraiba-type": Alternative emphasizing origin difference
- "Mozambican Paraiba": Common trade description
- Origin disclosure: Expected and required on reports
- Brazilian premium: Original source still commands 2-5x premium
Treatment Considerations
Understanding treatment in this material:
- Heat treatment: Common; improves colour, reduces pink/violet
- Disclosure: Required; affects value
- Unheated premium: Clean, unheated stones command premium
- Detection: Laboratory testing can usually identify heating
Market Position
Mozambican material in the marketplace:
- Availability: Made neon tourmaline accessible to more buyers
- Price range: $500-5,000/ct for fine stones (vs $10,000-50,000+ Brazilian)
- Size advantage: Large fine stones more available
- Collector view: Some prefer Brazilian exclusivity; others value Mozambican quality
- Investment: Brazilian origin retains stronger appreciation potential
Other East African Gems
Additional notable gem production in the region:
Colour-Change Garnet
- Source: Tanzania, Kenya
- Species: Pyrope-spessartine
- Effect: Blue-green to red/purple change
- Rarity: Exceptional; strong collector demand
Chrome Tourmaline
- Source: Tanzania
- Colour: Intense green (chromium)
- Character: Different from Paraiba type (no copper)
- Value: Premium for fine saturated stones
Additional Species
| Gem | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rhodolite garnet | Tanzania, Mozambique | Fine purple-red material |
| Spessartine garnet | Tanzania, Kenya | Orange to red-orange |
| Yellow sapphire | Tanzania | Good commercial production |
| Alexandrite | Tanzania | Some fine colour-change |
| Aquamarine | Mozambique | Santa Maria type colour |
| Peridot | Tanzania | Commercial production |