How Much Is Black Tourmaline Worth?
Also known as Schorl
Is black tourmaline worth money? Mostly it's an inexpensive stone — raw chunks and tumbled black tourmaline (schorl) sell for just $2–$25 because massive schorl is abundant and, unlike its rare colored cousins (rubellite, Paraíba), it has little gem value. Where it's worth more is as crystal specimens: well-formed, lengthwise-striated crystals and clusters run $15–$80, schorl-in-quartz combinations $25–$150, and large sharp crystals with good terminations or attractive matrix $40–$200+. Value comes from crystal form — sharp, lengthwise-striated prisms with good terminations are prized — plus luster, size, and aesthetic matrix association. Plain massive black tourmaline is very common and cheap, while textbook single crystals and combination specimens (schorl in quartz) carry premiums. Unlike its rare colored cousins (rubellite, Paraíba), schorl has little gem value but is a durable, affordable collector and metaphysical staple.
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Black Tourmaline value by type
| Type | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Raw / tumbled | $2 – $25 |
| Striated crystals / clusters | $15 – $80 |
| Schorl-in-quartz specimens | $25 – $150 |
| Large fine crystals / matrix | $40 – $200+ |
Educational ballparks for typical specimens — not a formal appraisal.
Prices reviewed July 2026.
What drives Black Tourmaline value
- Crystal form. Sharp, lengthwise-striated prisms with clean terminations are the single biggest driver — massive, formless chunks are worth the least.
- Market: specimen vs metaphysical. Sold as a 'protection' stone, tumbled/raw pieces stay a few dollars; the mineral-specimen market pays the real premiums for crystal quality and aesthetics.
- Matrix association. Attractive combinations — schorl in white quartz, or on mica/feldspar — add value over a loose crystal.
- Luster & size. Bright, glassy black faces and large, clean, well-formed crystals command more.
Is your Black Tourmaline real?
Black tourmaline is cheap and rarely faked, though other black stones (obsidian, black onyx, hematite) are sometimes mislabeled as it. Genuine schorl is hard (Mohs 7–7.5), shows distinctive lengthwise striations on crystal faces, and is lighter than metallic hematite. Smooth, unstriated black glass or a heavy metallic feel points to something else.
FAQ
- How much is black tourmaline worth?
- Most black tourmaline is inexpensive — $2–$25 for raw chunks and tumbled stones. Sharp, striated single crystals and clusters run $15–$80, schorl-in-quartz specimens $25–$150, and large fine crystals with good terminations $40–$200+. Crystal form and aesthetics, not weight, set the price.
- What is black tourmaline value based on?
- Almost entirely on crystal quality: a well-formed, lengthwise-striated crystal with a clean termination — ideally on an attractive matrix like white quartz — is worth many times more than the same weight of massive, formless schorl. Unlike its rare colored cousins (rubellite, Paraíba), black schorl has little gem value, so it's a specimen-and-metaphysical stone, not a gemstone.
- Is black tourmaline worth money?
- As a gem, no — schorl has little gem value and plain pieces are a few dollars. As mineral specimens, well-formed striated crystals and attractive schorl-in-quartz combinations are the pieces that carry real value ($40–$200+).
- How do I know it's real black tourmaline?
- Look for the characteristic parallel striations running along the crystal length and a hardness of 7–7.5; smooth glassy black without striations may be obsidian or glass.