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Rubellite

ru·​bel·​lite | rü-ˈbe-ˌlīt

noun

A red or pink variation of tourmaline

Rubellite is a variation of tourmaline that presents as red or pink, often leading it to be mistaken for ruby. Because of the rarity of the reddish color, rubellite is the rarest variation of tourmaline and is found in only a few select locations, including mines in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Nigeria, Myanmar, and the United States. It is also known as Apyrite, Aphrodite, and Rubylite. The name is derived from the latin word for red, shared with “rubies.” Rubellites can present a brownish color as well when dark enough and they are generally known for having a large number of inclusions, so red gems without inclusions are exceedingly rare.

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