These 10 Insanely Rare Gems Are the Real Treasure Hunters' Dream

8. Paraiba Tourmaline

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With its vivid neon blue to green hues, which result from trace copper levels inside its crystal structure, Paraiba Tourmaline has enthralled the gem world. Originally found in the Brazilian state of Paraíba in the 1980s, this unusual and extremely valuable gemstone is among the most sought-after tourmalines in the world because of its vivid colours and scarcity. Brazilian miner Heitor Dimas Barbosa spent years searching for Paraiba Tourmaline, and is credited with discovering this remarkable gemstone. Barbosa's tenacity paid off late in the 1980s when he discovered the first Paraiba Tourmaline specimens in Paraíba, Brazil's Mina da Batalha. Unlike anything else, the brilliant neon blue to green colours of the gemstone attracted attention and appreciation fast from gemologists, jewellers, and collectors all around. Paraiba Tourmaline is a trigonal crystal arrangement and geologically is a gemstone member of the tourmaline group. On the Mohs scale of hardness, it comes in at 7 to 7.5, which qualifies for rings, earrings, and pendants among other kinds of jewellery. Copper is mostly responsible for the vivid colours of the gemstone; manganese also helps to produce the variances. Often referred to as "electric" or "neon," the most valuable Paraiba Tourmalines have a brilliant neon blue or green hue from their great saturation and brightness. Paraiba Tourmaline's rareness is another element influencing its great value. The initial Paraíba, Brazil, resources were rapidly depleted, and later finds in other sites, including Nigeria and Mozambique, have yielded just small amounts of gem-quality Paraíba Tourmaline. Although these more recent sources are excellent, they sometimes generate stones with somewhat distinct colour qualities than the original Brazilian material. Still, all Paraiba Tourmalines are quite valuable because of their unusual and arresting colours. Apart from its scarcity and aesthetic attractiveness, Paraiba Tourmaline is appreciated for its special optical qualities. Pleochroism is the phenomena whereby a gemstone displays several colours depending on the angle of view. This optical impression accentuates the mystery of the gemstone and increases its appeal. Paraiba Tourmaline is highly prized by collectors and gem aficioners not only for its beauty but also for its rarity and special circumstances of production. Paraiba Tourmaline's appeal beyond only its physical characteristics. Gemological history now includes the finding of the gemstone and the ensuing rush to locate more of this unique material. The legend of Heitor Dimas Barbosa's tenacity and the final finding of such a remarkable gemstone accentuates Paraiba Tourmaline's mysticism and appeal. Many times, owning a piece of Paraiba Tourmaline is considered as possessing a piece of modern gemological history, a gemstone that reflects the spirit of discovery and the beauty of nature's workmanship. Paraiba Tourmaline is, all things considered, a gemstone of great rarity and beauty. One of the most sought-after tourmalines worldwide, its vivid neon blue to green hues mixed with their special optical qualities and exclusiveness define it. Paraiba Tourmaline is the height of nature's artistry for gem lovers and collectors; its mesmerising colours help to perfectly depict the Brazilian terrain.