Virginia, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Kentucky and Tennessee to the west, North Carolina to the south, and Maryland to the north, is a treasure trove for rock enthusiasts.

Many aspiring gem hunters dream of finding tourmaline but struggle to locate promising sites. The search can be frustrating and time-consuming. Fear not! We’ve done the hard work for you.

Today, we’ll reveal the best spots in Virginia to find tourmaline, saving you countless hours of research and fruitless expeditions.

Get ready to discover prime locations where your chances of unearthing this coveted gemstone are highest.

How Tourmaline Forms Here

Tourmaline forms deep underground through intense heat and pressure. It originates from hot, mineral-rich fluids that move through fractures in rocks like granite and pegmatite. As these fluids cool, the minerals within them start to crystallize, forming tourmaline.

The color of tourmaline depends on the specific minerals involved, leading to a wide range of hues including pink, red, green, and blue.

Over millions of years, these crystals grow and become the beautiful, multifaceted stones we see today. Tourmaline is prized for its variety of colors and is often used in jewelry and decorative items.

The Types Of Tourmaline

Several incredible types of Tourmaline can be found in the US as well as in our state. Each is uniquely beautiful and interesting including:

Elbaite

Elbaite is found in pink, red, green, blue, yellow, and even colorless forms. What makes elbaite special is its ability to show multiple colors in a single crystal, like the famous “watermelon” tourmaline with pink and green hues.

This gem stands out due to its complex chemical makeup, which includes lithium, sodium, and aluminum. This composition gives Elbaite its diverse color range and dichroism, allowing it to display different colors when viewed from different angles.

Elbaite has a unique place in history as the first tourmaline variety in which lithium was discovered back in 1818. Some rare types, like the neon blue Paraiba elbaite, are highly sought after by collectors and jewelers.

Schorl

Schorl is known for its deep, rich color. It typically forms long, prismatic crystals with a shiny, glass-like surface when polished. Unlike other tourmalines, schorl gets its distinctive black color from high iron concentrations.

One of Schorl’s most fascinating features is its ability to become electrically charged through heating or rubbing. When charged, it can attract or repel small particles.

This unique electrical property makes Schorl valuable in various industries. It’s used in electronics and manufacturing to control static electricity and electromagnetic interference.

Despite being less colorful than other tourmalines, schorl’s practical applications make it an important and interesting variety.

Rubellite

Rubellite stands out with its vibrant pink to red colors. The most prized ones show a pure, saturated red without any brown or orange hints. This beautiful color comes from manganese in its makeup.

One cool thing about rubellite is its double refraction. It can look like it has two different colors when you view it from different angles.

Dravite

Dravite, or Brown Tourmaline, comes in shades from dark brown to light brown-yellow. It can look a bit like Smoky Quartz, with a semi-see-through quality.

Its crystals are often needle-like or prismatic, with points at both ends. This sets it apart from other tourmalines like the darker schorl or the colorful elbaite.

What makes dravite special is its rich sodium and magnesium content. This sets it apart from other tourmalines. It was first discovered in 1883 and named after the Drava River in Slovenia.

Indicolite

Indicolite is a rare and captivating blue to blue-green stone. It’s prized for its pure, bright blue color, which is considered the rarest within the tourmaline family. The hues can range from light blue-green to deep, rich blue, often with high clarity.

What sets Indicolite apart is its unique optical effects. It shows pleochroism, appearing to change color when viewed from different angles. Some specimens also display chatoyancy, creating a “cat’s eye” effect when cut in a certain way.

Indicolite is sometimes called “Brazilian sapphire” due to its resemblance to the precious gem. However, they’re different minerals.

The increasing demand for blue tourmalines has made indicolite highly sought-after in the gemstone market, appreciated for its beauty and rarity.

Watermelon Tourmaline

Watermelon tourmaline is truly one-of-a-kind. It looks just like a slice of watermelon, with a pink or red center and a green outer layer. This unique look happens because different elements join the crystal at different times as it grows.

These crystals often form in a rounded triangle shape. They’re see-through to somewhat clear and have a glass-like shine. When cut into slices, they really do look like little watermelons!

Cat’s Eye Tourmaline

Cat’s eye tourmaline is known for its mesmerizing chatoyancy effect. This creates a bright band across the stone’s surface, resembling a cat’s eye.

This stone comes in various colors, from green to pink to brown, and is usually semi-translucent to opaque.

What makes this stone special is the perfect alignment of tiny, needle-like inclusions inside it. These scatter light in a unique way, creating that eye-catching effect. It’s quite different from other tourmalines that don’t have this feature.

Unlike other cat’s eye stones, Tourmaline offers a wider range of colors and is often more affordable.

Achroite

Achroite is a rare, colorless variety of tourmaline that looks like a drop of clear water turned to stone. It’s completely transparent, making it unique among tourmalines which usually have color. The name comes from Greek, meaning “without color.”

What’s special about achroite is that it doesn’t change color when viewed from different angles. It means the stone can be cut in many ways without losing its clarity.

Verdelite

Verdelite is known for its beautiful green color. It can range from light green to deep emerald.

One thing that makes verdelite special is that you can find big, clear crystals of it. This isn’t always easy with other gemstones.

People love using verdelite in jewelry because its rich color and interesting light effects make it a popular choice for all kinds of accessories. Each piece of verdelite is like a little piece of nature you can wear.

Paraíba Tourmaline

Paraíba Tourmaline is a rare gemstone that catches the eye with its vibrant neon blue or green color. It’s like no other tourmaline you’ve seen before. The intense glow comes from copper in the stone, making it stand out from its cousins.

This stone is one of the rarest. For every 10,000 diamonds mined, only one Paraíba tourmaline is found.

It was only discovered in the late 1980s, making it a newcomer in the gem world. But Paraíba tourmaline’s unique color and rarity quickly made it a favorite among gem lovers.

Its discovery caused quite a stir in the gem community. Even small stones can be valuable because of how rare and beautiful they are.

What Rough Tourmaline Looks Like

When you’re out looking for rough Tourmaline on your own it’s important to know what you’re looking for.  Here are some tips to help you recognize rough tourmaline.

Look for Color Variations

Tourmaline comes in many colors, like pink, green, blue, and even black. Some pieces have multiple colors, like watermelon tourmaline, which is pink and green.

If you see these color mixes, it’s likely tourmaline. Keep an eye out for vibrant shades.

Assess the Density and Weight

Rough tourmaline is relatively heavy for its size. If you pick up a piece and it feels denser than expected, it could be tourmaline. This weight can help you confirm your find.

Examine the Crystal Structure

Tourmaline features distinctive crystal shapes, ranging from slender and elongated to chunky forms. Look for triangular cross-sections and striations on the surface, which indicate its unique growth patterns.

Check for Transparency

Some rough tourmaline can be slightly transparent. If you hold it up to the light, you might see through it a bit. This transparency can be a good sign that you have tourmaline.

A Quick Request About Collecting

Tips on where to look

Once you get to the places we have listed below there are some things you should keep in mind when you’re searching:

Look for Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary rocks are great places to find tourmaline. These rocks form from layers of sand, mud, and minerals. Over time, minerals like tourmaline can get trapped.

Look in riverbeds or areas where sediment has built up. You might find small pieces or even larger crystals. 

Explore Mines

Mines are great spots to find tourmaline. Many mines across the U.S. extract various gemstones, including tourmaline.

Some mines even allow visitors to search for gems themselves. Always check if they have guided tours or special digging days.

Search in Gravel Pits

Gravel pits are often overlooked, but they can be treasure troves. These pits dig deep into the earth, exposing layers of rock.

Tourmaline can be found in the gravel. Just sift through the material carefully.

The types of Tourmaline can you find around the state

Virginia is home to several types of tourmaline, with water tourmaline and schorl being the most notable.

Water tourmaline, often characterized by its light colors and transparency, can be found in various locations across the state, particularly in pegmatite deposits.

In contrast, schorl, commonly known as black tourmaline, is recognized for its striking black color and prismatic crystal formations.

Both types contribute to Virginia’s rich mineral diversity and are sought after by collectors and gem enthusiasts alike.

Some Great Places To Start

Here are some of the top locations in Virginia where you can begin your search for tourmaline. These sites are among the best in the state for finding this precious gemstone.

Irish Creek

Irish Creek, nestled in the scenic Buena Vista area of Rockbridge County, Virginia, is a hidden gem for rockhounds. This picturesque stream winds through the northwestern part of the state, cutting into the Appalachian landscape.

The creek’s geological history is a rockhound’s dream, shaped by ancient volcanic activity and complex sedimentary processes.

Tourmaline hunters flock to Irish Creek for its rich pegmatite veins. These mineral-packed formations, exposed along the creek bed and nearby outcrops, are prime spots for finding this colorful gemstone.

The area’s diverse rock types, a result of its tumultuous geological past, make each expedition exciting and unpredictable.

While searching for tourmaline, keep an eye out for other minerals too. The creek’s varied geology often yields unexpected treasures.

Remember, the best finds often come after rainfall when the water washes away sediment, revealing fresh surfaces.

Tye River

The Tye River is located in central Virginia. This 35.4-mile waterway starts its journey on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, carving through diverse landscapes as it flows southeast to meet the James River.

As you explore, you’ll encounter a variety of rock formations, cliffs, and outcrops that hint at the mineral treasures hidden within.

The river’s state-designated scenic section boasts islands, rapids, and fascinating rock formations, creating an ideal environment for rockhounding adventures.

To uncover tourmaline, focus your search along the riverbanks and nearby rock outcrops. The river’s constant erosion often exposes new specimens, making each visit a potentially rewarding experience.

Bull Run Quarry

Bull Run Quarry is situated near Conklin in Loudoun County, Virginia. It lies in the northern region of the state, close to the historic Bull Run Battlefield. The quarry is easily accessible and serves the growing Northern Virginia market.

Tourmaline, the star of the show, shares the stage with other fascinating finds like hydroxyapophyllite-(K) and prehnite.

Bull Run Quarry is renowned for its unique geological formations, making it an excellent location for rockhounding. The quarry’s geological environment is conducive to the formation of various minerals, including tourmaline.

Within Bull Run Quarry, tourmaline can typically be found embedded in the rock formations. Rockhounding enthusiasts often search for pockets within the quarry where these minerals are more concentrated. 

Nibbs Creek

Located in the heart of Amelia County, Nibbs Creek offers a hidden treasure trove for gemstone enthusiasts. It winds through the Chula area, which is a hotspot for tourmaline hunters.

The creek’s unique geology, characterized by rich pegmatite deposits, makes it a prime location for finding these colorful crystals. The creek’s natural erosion process has exposed many of these mineral-rich areas, making your search easier.

As you explore Nibbs Creek, keep an eye out for the telltale signs of pegmatite outcrops along the stream banks. These coarse-grained igneous rocks often host tourmaline and other valuable minerals.

Local rockhounds recommend checking the gravel bars and small pools where the creek’s flow slows down. Here, heavier minerals like tourmaline tend to settle.

Don’t forget to scan the surrounding hillsides too, as weathering can reveal hidden gem pockets in the exposed rock faces.

Otter Hill

Otter Hill is located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of southern Virginia. This picturesque area, known for its breathtaking mountain views, sits at the crossroads of natural beauty and geological wonder.

Otter Hill’s rich geological history, shaped by metamorphic and igneous activity, has created an ideal environment for gemstone formation.

The area’s standout feature is its pegmatite veins, which run through the rocky terrain and are often rich in tourmaline and other minerals.

Rockhounds can explore old mining sites and natural outcrops where these veins are exposed, offering the best chances of finding high-quality specimens.

Places Tourmaline has been found by county

After discussing our top picks, we wanted to discuss the other places on our list. Below is a list of the additional locations where we have succeeded, along with a breakdown of each place by county.