Gemstone: Green Tourmaline

In 1500’s Brazil, a conquistador mistakenly identified a dusty green tourmaline as emerald. This confusion lived on until the 1800’s, when gem identification became sophisticated enough to identify it as a mineral species of its own in the 1800’s. Tourmaline comes in such a wide variety of colors that it earned the name “tourmaline” from the Sinhalese word for “mixed gems”. 
MOHs Hardness: 7-7.5
Origins: Various
Care: Although tourmalines are sturdy they are not invincible and can break: avoid dropping them onto hard surfaces. To clean your aquamarine jewelry, soak in warm, soapy water and remove any dirt with a toothbrush or the like.
Healing Properties: Healing, strength, vitality, wholeness
Birthstone: October