Paraíba Tourmaline
The electric neon-turquoise gem that rewrote price records: discovered 1989 in Brazil's Paraíba state by Heitor Barbosa's team, copper-colored by trace Cu. Later twin finds at Nigeria and Mozambique. Fine Brazilian material trades above diamond per carat.
Known origins & mines
Batalha Neon Fields · Brazil
São José da Batalha's sludge-filled veins yielded electric turquoise tourmaline discovered 1989 by Heitor Barbosa against all geological log…
Mavuco Mozambique Fields · Mozambique
The 2003 Mavuco rush near Montepuez put Mozambican copper tourmaline on the map — heat-treated purples become neon blues supplying most mode…
Ofiki Oyo State Fields · Nigeria
The 2001 discovery of copper-bearing neon tourmaline here broke Brazil's monopoly; Nigeria remains a recognized second "Paraiba" source acce…
Mulungu Copper Mines · Brazil
Bahia's copper tourmaline discovery (2001) briefly challenged Paraíba exclusivity — slightly greener neon stones from Mulungu and Salgadinho…