SCHORL

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES:  Schorl, pronounced SHORL, has been known since antiquity and was named in the 13^th century after the German mining town of Zschorlau, where it was occurred in quantity in the local tine mines.  Important sources are located in Brazil, Pakistan, Germany, Madagascar, Canada, Mexico, and the United States (California, Maine, New Hampshire, Colorado)

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Schorl [basic sodium iron aluminum borosilicate, NaFe₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄] crystallizes in the hexagonal (trigonal) system as long, longitudinally striated, jet-black, opaque prisms with distinctive, triangular cross sections.  It has a Mohs hardness of 7.0, a vitreous luster, indistinct cleavage, and a specific gravity of 3.2.  Its diagnostic jet-black color is caused by its high iron content.  Schorl, the most abundant member of the tourmaline-mineral group, occurs primarily in granite pegmatites with quartz, albite, and the tourmaline-group mineral elbaite.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES:  Schorl is a semiprecious gemstone that was especially popular during the Victorian era in mourning jewelry.  It serves as a minor gemstone today.  Schorl has no technological uses.  During medieval times, schorl was thought to alleviate the symptoms of pulmonary ailments.  Metaphysical practitioners believe that schorl removes and blocks and negative energies, increases physical vitality, and enhances insight and vision in daily activities.

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Schorl is widely collected for its jet-black color, vitreous luster, excellent crystal development, and long, striated prisms.  It is especially popular as composite specimens in association with white albite and other pegmatite minerals.

DOLOMITE

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Dolomite was described as a mineral species in 1791 and named for the French geologist Déodat de Dolomieu.  Dolomite is abundant and widely distributed, but good specimens are uncommon.  Notable sources are found in China, Austria, France, Germany, Morocco, South Africa, and the United States (Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, New York).

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Dolomite [calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMg(CO₃)₂], pronounced DOUGH-low-mite, crystallizes in the hexagonal system (trigonal subsystem) as blocky, often twinned, rhombohedral crystals with slightly curved faces.  Dolomite also occurs in compact, granular, and massive forms and is the primary component of dolomite rock, which is similar to limestone.  It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5-4.0, pearly to vitreous luster, perfect cleavage in three directions to form rhombohedrons, and a specific gravity of 2.8-2.9.  Crystals, which are rarely well-developed, are transparent to translucent and usually white or colorless, although impurities can impart a range of subtle hues.  It occurs primarily in chemical sedimentary rocks (dolomite rock) and in metamorphosed dolomitic marbles.  It also is  found in metamorphic skarns and hydrothermal veins.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES:  According to modern metaphysical practitioners, dolomite relieves sorrow and the symptoms of depression, aligns and balances mental and emotional energies, and encourages charitable actions and generosity.  Dolomite is an important ore of magnesium and magnesium compounds; dolomite rock is quarried as a dimensional stone, cement aggregate, and road-fill material.

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Collectors acquire dolomite because of the rarity of well-developed crystals; interesting mineralogical associations; and unusual, curved crystal faces.