Black Tourmaline and EMF Radiation: Everything You Need To Know

Over the years, crystals have been used for a variety of purposes. They have been used for healing, in meditation, and different rituals throughout history. One surprising, modern day application for crystals is EMF protection.

When you start digging into crystals for EMF protection, there are a few stones that will come up time and time again. Shungite, for example, is quite a popular anti-EMF stone. Another one that you will see come up often is black tourmaline.

In this guide, we will focus on black tourmaline, specifically. We will take a look at how the stone is made, and what properties make it potentially EMF protective. We will also highlight different black tourmaline products, and talk about some of the other benefits that have been tied to this crystal, as well.

What is Black Tourmaline?

Black tourmaline is a member of the larger tourmaline family. These crystals are formed from a boron silicate. Tourmaline is created inside of the Earth, in deep crevasses. These cracks become filled with a molten hot liquid, which, over time, hardens into different crystals. That is why different types of tourmaline are usually found embedded in other rocks, as opposed to on their own.

The process of creating tourmaline can result in a crystal that is any number of different colors — it is estimated there are 32 different types of tourmaline with their own distinct chemical compositions. Green tourmaline is one of the more common types, as is black tourmaline, which is sometimes referred to as black schorl. Other types of tourmaline include alluvial tourmaline, watermelon tourmaline, and paraiba tourmaline. Some of the more exotic types, such as watermelon tourmaline, are actually two or more different colors in a single stone.

Tourmaline is produced through mining. There are several regions throughout the world that are known to have large tourmaline deposits, including southern California, Maine, Brazil, and throughout Africa. It is a common crystal to find at rock shops and new age stores, and some gem mines even allow you to go sift for your own.

All types of tourmaline share some unique characteristics that help set them apart from other gems and crystals. Tourmaline is considered chatoyant, for example. That means when the crystal is cut for the purposes of turning it into a gemstone, it can take on a cat eye-like quality if light is shined directly onto the surface. Tourmaline is also pleochroic. In other words, the color of the gem can change slightly, depending on the angle you look at it.

Furthermore, the tourmaline usually has six-sided cross sections. This particular characteristic can be useful if you are trying to identify raw tourmaline. The image below helps illustrate what those different cross sections look like.

“Schorl – Black tourmaline” by Mauro Cateb is licensed under CC BY 2.0

As you can see, the rounded cross sections are almost like little tubes running the entire length of the crystal. This can help set black tourmaline apart from other, similarly colored stones such as obsidian and onyx.

With black tourmaline, in particular, being so common, it is not too likely that you would run across an imitation. They do exist, but they are rare. Fake tourmaline is usually made by gluing colored glass between pieces of clear glass. Imitation tourmaline lacks the characteristic cross sections, and, in the case of black tourmaline, may not have as vibrant of a color.

Black Tourmaline and EMF radiation

Black tourmaline is often touted as having EMF protective properties. Some say that it helps your body process surrounding EMF radiation more effectively, or neutralizes its effects. There is even a possibility that it reduces the amount of EMF radiation produced by a device. In the video below, radiation from a computer monitor is measured with an EMF meter both before and after black tourmaline is placed nearby. Watch and see what happens.

Impressively, the reading is lower when the black tourmaline is set near the monitor. Granted, the EMF radiation is not eliminated — the meter definitely does still detect some. But it is undeniably less than without the black tourmaline nearby.

One reason for this could be that the boron silicate deposits that make up black tourmaline consist of many different metals, and some of those metals, such as iron, can have EMF protective properties. Another possibility is that it is simply a dense enough rock to block a certain amount of EMF radiation from passing through.

Other uses for Black Tourmaline

EMF protection is far from the only reason people use black tourmaline. Many of the other benefits are primarily anecdotal — they aren’t exactly things you can scientifically study. That being said, this crystal has been used for centuries, particularly in jewelry. Let’s take a look at a few of the other potential benefits of this beautiful stone.

From a physical standpoint, black tourmaline is thought to speed up the body’s natural healing processes. Surrounding yourself with black tourmaline may boost your immune system and help reduce muscle soreness, as well as lower the impact of many different environmental toxins.

On the emotional side of things, black tourmaline may help absorb negative energies. This may be beneficial for those suffering from conditions such as anxiety or depression. By ridding the wearer of negative energies, they become more attuned to the positive energy around them. Black tourmaline is also thought to help balance the root chakra, leaving the wearer to feel more confident and able to connect on a deeper level with others.

If you are someone who believes in the power of negative and positive energies, it is recommended to smudge your black tourmaline periodically to cleanse the crystal of stored up negative energy. This involves burning herbs such as sage, allowing the smoke to purify the object of your smudging. If you do try smudging, hold your black tourmaline directly into the smoke for best results.

Black Tourmaline products

5. Real Crystal Black Tourmaline Orgone Pendant. Orgonite is essentially a composite blend of resin and different stones. In the case of this pendant, the orgonite is made from black tourmaline, aquamarine, and onyx. The pendant itself is teardrop shaped with a tree of life decal on the front and a color pattern that changes from deep black to light blue at the bottom. Real Crystal advertises their pendant as being useful for EMF protection, as well as for anxiety relief, chakra balancing, meditation, and collecting positive energy. The pendant comes on a simple, adjustable black cord that can be hung around the neck. Each necklace is 100% handmade, as well.

4. Ripple Stream Raw Tourmaline Crystal Healing Chakra Pendant. If you prefer the look of raw black tourmaline over polished, look no further than this pendant from Ripple Stream. A raw piece of black tourmaline is wrapped in hand knitted cordage. The cordage is knotted at several different points to help keep the tourmaline securely in place, and the cord itself is adjustable for a better fit. Ripple Stream states that their raw tourmaline pendant helps shield from EMF radiation and negative energies. Each pendant is unique as the stones are raw, and each piece of black tourmaline is hand chosen. The pendant itself ranges in size between four and five centimeters, so it’s a little smaller and more lightweight than you may expect for a raw tourmaline pendant.

3. Healing Crystals India Black Tourmaline Pyramid. A pendant is great for on-the-go protection, but you may want something a little different for your home or office. This black tourmaline pyramid from Healing Crystals India is actually made from orgonite that includes black tourmaline, among other crystals. While it is advertised as large size, it is actually quite small, with a two inch base. Given its small size, this is ideal for protection in a smaller room.

2. KALIFANO Black Tourmaline Bundle. Your best bet for EMF protection from black tourmaline may be to simply invest in a few stones. This bundle from KALIFANO includes 500 carats worth of black tourmaline, although the exact number of crystals provided will vary based on their size. They guarantee their stones with a 100% money-back guarantee, and the tourmaline itself is mined from Brazil. This is a great bundle if you’re looking to protect an entire room. For example, you could take four of the stones and place one at each corner of your computer desk to protect you as you work.

1. Rock Paradise Large Black Tourmaline Rod. Maybe you like the idea of raw black tourmaline, but you’d prefer something a little larger. In that case, this large tourmaline rod from Rock Paradise is perfect. Each stone weighs over a half of a pound, although the exact size varies due to the nature of raw crystals. These black tourmaline rods are mined from Brazil and come with a Certificate of Authenticity and a mineral ID card.

Final thoughts

If you are curious to try using crystals for EMF protection, black tourmaline may be worth looking into. Not only does it potentially have anti-EMF properties, but there are many physical and emotional benefits to having some on hand, as well.

If you’d like to learn about additional crystals that may help with radiation protection, check out our guide: The Top 10 Crystals for EMF Protection.