Rubellite Properties & Use
Rubellite is red tourmaline, and the name of this pretty stone even alludes to it, as it comes from "rubellus," which means "reddish," taken from the parts "ruber" meaning "red," and "-lus," a diminutive suffix.
Latin lesson aside, you might consider a "reddish" stone to be pink, and of course rubellite is no exception, as it can appear red, pink, or even reddish-violet. Depending on the person, however, they might consider a light pink rubellite to be just "pink tourmaline." This just tends to dip into wordplay way too much, so we will consider all red varieties of tourmaline to be rubellite to keep things simple.
Rubellite is also known as "rubylite," which is a clever combining of "ruby" and "rubellite." This term, however, should be avoided to as to not confuse things. Though, there is more to rubies and rubellites that we'll get to in a minute. Rubelite is a common misspelling of rubellite. Don't forget that second l, everyone!
So, does rubellite have any practical uses? Not many that we could find on rubellite specifically. Tourmaline in general does have piezoelectric properties that might lend itself to being useful in certain areas of industries, particularly in terms of protection. Black tourmaline is fairly common, so it gets used instead of most colorful varieties.
Rubellite clocks in at a 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which makes it a fairly decent option for jewelry. Who can blame anyone for trying, anyway? Colored tourmalines have been popular throughout most of history, and this red variety is no different.
One of the most famous cases of misidentifications among these nobles was involved tourmaline. Russian crown jewels were long believed to have rich, red rubies the collection. Turns out, however, that some of the rubies in question were none other than rubellite. If you are related to Russian nobility, sorry for breaking the news to you. But you could always keep your eye open for bear clocks...
Metaphysical Properties of Rubellite
Crystal healing and metaphysical communities claim that many gemstones possess metaphysical properties. It is important to note that these claims have no scientific basis, however, and they are not endorsed by healthcare professionals. We do not recommend substituting crystals for professional care or treatment since is no scientific evidence supporting the idea that specific crystals have any real benefits aside from the placebo effect. While meditation can have some benefits, it should not be viewed as a replacement for scientifically validated conventional medical practices.
It is advisable to consult medical professionals for any health concerns, and the use of crystals or meditation should not be seen as a substitute for seeking professional medical or health advice, treatment, or expertise. In the absence of scientific evidence, it is essential to prioritize evidence-based medical practices. Regardless, crystal healers believe that green aventurine has metaphysical properties, such as:
"Rubellite is a great gemstone for lovers, those seeking love, and those looking to feel heightened confidence within themselves. Rubellite ignites feelings of passion, desire, sexual energy, and lust. The raw energy of Rubellite courses through the Root Chakra, through the Heart Chakra, and out of the Crown Chakra: triggering a combined effort of these Chakras which leaves you feel energized with robust desires for love and sexual pleasure. Rubellite also touches on the sincere bonds of love within the heart and can deepen and strengthen affectionate connections. Rubellite has a naturally cheerful and confident energy which makes you feel more open minded, sure of yourself, and ready for new experiences. It is also a great stone to work with when a relationship ends and you need to put past hurts behind you and move forward as Rubellite promotes love and positive change."
Wrap Up
Rubellite is a pretty stone that is pink tourmaline. The stone, at a glance, is sometimes confused for a ruby crystal. But a little testing and further examination reveals that both are different, beautiful, and amazing! Rubellite has little use in terms of industry, but black tourmaline is frequently used.
Sources
Zhenfeng Hu, Chuanyao Sun, An Study on Preparation and Utilization of Tourmaline from Tailings of an Iron-ore Processing Plant, Procedia Environmental Sciences, Volume 31, 2016, Pages 153-161, ISSN 1878-0296.
https://geology.com/minerals/tourmaline.shtml
https://www.mindat.org/min-3473.html