Comparison · Silicate Minerals vs Minerals
Schorl vs Tourmaline
Schorl and Tourmaline are easy to confuse. Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their properties and the quick tests that separate them.
Key differences between Schorl and Tourmaline
- Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
- Streak color differs: Schorl leaves a white to grayish streak on unglazed porcelain, Tourmaline leaves white (colorless).
- Hold a thin edge to the light: Schorl is opaque, Tourmaline is Transparent to opaque.
- They overlap in black, but Schorl also comes in brown and Tourmaline also comes in green, pink, blue, and multicolored.
- Well-formed crystals give it away: Schorl is trigonal, Tourmaline is Trigonal.
Schorl vs Tourmaline properties
| Property | Schorl | Tourmaline |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Silicate Minerals | Minerals |
| Mohs hardness | 7 | 7–7.5 |
| Luster | vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White to grayish | White (colorless) |
| Transparency | opaque | Transparent to opaque |
| Specific gravity | 3.1 | 3.0–3.25 |
| Crystal system | trigonal | Trigonal |
| Common colors | Black, Bluish black, Brownish black | Black, Green, Pink, Blue, Multicolored (watermelon) |
| Rarity | common | common |
| Typical specimen value | $5–$400+ | $2–$150+ |
Which is more valuable?
Schorl is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $50 against $20 for Tourmaline, and premium Schorl can reach $400 or more.
About Schorl
Schorl is the common black, iron-rich member of the tourmaline group. It forms striated prismatic crystals with a rounded triangular cross-section and is by far the most abundant tourmaline species in nature.
About Tourmaline
Tourmaline is not a single mineral but a group of complex borosilicates sharing a trigonal crystal structure and the general formula XY3Z6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4, with composition varying widely among species such as schorl, elbaite, and dravite. It has the widest color range of any mineral group, from jet-black schorl to multicolored elbaite crystals that can shift from pink to green along a single crystal, called watermelon tourmaline. It is also both piezoelectric and pyroelectric, generating an electric charge under pressure or heat.
Schorl vs Tourmaline FAQ
Is Schorl the same as Tourmaline?
No. Schorl is a silicate mineral while Tourmaline is a mineral. Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
How can you tell Schorl from Tourmaline?
Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Streak color differs: Schorl leaves a white to grayish streak on unglazed porcelain, Tourmaline leaves white (colorless). Hold a thin edge to the light: Schorl is opaque, Tourmaline is Transparent to opaque.
Which is harder, Schorl or Tourmaline?
They are about equally hard, both near Mohs 7.
Which is more valuable, Schorl or Tourmaline?
Schorl is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $50 against $20 for Tourmaline, and premium Schorl can reach $400 or more.
