New Paraíba Tourmalines May Originate from Deposit in Ethiopia

The Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) has received reliable industry reports of the discovery of a new copper-bearing tourmaline deposit in Ethiopia.

The finding comes as the SSEF investigates several gemstones whose origins remain uncertain under current analytical testing, it explained last week. However, Ethiopia is emerging as a possible source.

Early analyses showed significant similarities between the new copper-bearing tourmalines and stones from other sources, especially Brazil, making origin tracability challenging and prompting further research to refine identification methods.

Until now, known sources of these sought-after gemstones, also known as Paraiba tourmalines, have been limited. First discovered by Heitor Barbosa near São José da Batalha in Brazil’s Paraíba state, the gem quickly gained global attention for its vivid blue to bluish-green hues, often defined as “neon” or “electric.” These characteristic colors are primarily the result of copper within the tourmaline’s crystal structure, SSEF added.

Production from the deposits in Paraíba and the neighboring state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil was relatively sparse. Yet, the gemstone trade discovered other sources from Nigeria and Mozambique in the early 2000s. Mozambique has emerged as a major supplier of gem-quality copper-bearing tourmalines, producing the stones in far bigger quantities and, at times, at sizes up to several hundred carats.

Image: Paraiba tourmalines, some of which may have originated in Ethiopia. (Swiss Gemmolgical Insitute)