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October’s birthstones<br />
Tourmaline & Opal<br />
Gemstones Tourmaline and Opal are<br />
the official birthstone for October.<br />
Tourmaline is also the stone for the Zodiac<br />
sign of Leo, and the accepted gem for<br />
the eighth wedding anniversary.<br />
The name Tourmaline comes from<br />
the Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) word tura<br />
mali which translates as the stone of<br />
mixed colors. These stones are 7 to 7.5<br />
on the Mohs’ scale of hardness. Tourmaline<br />
is available in a wide variety of<br />
colors from black to bluish-black, dark<br />
brown, yellow, medium brown, blue to<br />
neon blue, lime to dark forest green, red<br />
and reddish purple, yellow, pink, and<br />
colourless.<br />
Bi-coloured and multicoloured tourmalines<br />
may be green at one end and<br />
pink at the other, watermelon tourmalines<br />
are green on the outside and pink<br />
on the inside. Some stones are dichroic<br />
meaning they appear to change color<br />
when viewed from different angles.<br />
The most expensive tourmalines are the<br />
blue indicolite, green verdelite and pink<br />
rubellite.<br />
Ancient legend says that tourmaline is<br />
found in all colors because it travelled<br />
along a rainbow and gathered all the the<br />
rainbow’s colors.<br />
Tourmaline is believed to strengthen the<br />
body and spirit, especially the nervous system,<br />
blood and lymphs. It is also thought<br />
to inspire creativity and was used extensively<br />
as a talisman by artists and writers.<br />
Boulder opal is found in Australia where<br />
precious opal forms in veins and patches<br />
within brown ironstone boulders. When<br />
the opal is mixed through the ironstone<br />
it is called matrix opal. Hardness ranges<br />
between 5.5 and 6 on the Mohs scale.<br />
Boulder opal is very durable due to the<br />
ironstone backing the opal forms on. Because<br />
water content within the opal is very low it<br />
almost never cracks or crazes as it ages.<br />
Opal is believed to aid inner beauty,<br />
faithfulness, and eyesight and help recall<br />
past lives.<br />
Opal & silver ring<br />
Unprocessed<br />
opals<br />
Tourmaline & diamond<br />
in white gold<br />
can be . Find safely<br />
wrapped fruit and nut choices for the little<br />
ghouls and goblins. And, yes, we have<br />
pumpkins and , too!<br />
We have all your .<br />
OPEN 7 AM – 9 PM 7 DAYS A WEEK<br />
<br />
26 Powell River Living : october 2008
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