Zambian Tourmaline

Multicolored Bismuth-Bearing Tourmaline from Lundazi, Zambia

“…The gemological properties of the Zambian tourmalines we studied are consistent with those of the tourmalines from the Lundazi area described by Thomas (1982). One reason for extensive past interest in Zambian tourmalines was the possibility that specimens from the Chipata area might have been the hypothetical manganese-rich species tsilaisite, although none proved to be so (see, e.g., Schmetzer and Bank, 1984a and b;Shigley et al, 1986).…”

“…Bank (1982) described yellowgreen, green, red, brown, and violet tourmalines from Zambia, but he provided no specific information about their source. The bicolored tourmaline mentioned by Thomas (1982) may have come from Lundazi or Nyimba.…”

Yellow Mn-Rich Tourmaline From The Canary Mining Area, Zambia

“…comm., 2006 Pegmatites in the Lundazi area are known for producing mica and gem-quality aquamarine, spessartine, tourmaline (green, pink, or yellow), and rose quartz. These pegmatites and their gems have been described by Thomas (1982), Patney and Tether (1988), Zgambo (1995), Johnson et al (1997), Milisenda et al (2000), and Njamu (2003). Patney and Tether (1988) defined two belts of gem-bearing pegmatites in the Lundazi District, and indicated that they are broadly synchronous with the late Pan-African Sinda Batholith (~489 million years old…”