Our study of Paraíba tourmaline from Ethiopia is published

Bangkok, 23 October 2026. ICA | GemLab has published a study of Paraíba and copper-bearing tourmaline from the deposit near Abuloo in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region, which emerged as a source of gem-quality material this year.

The study examined 69 stones, 64 rough and five faceted, by microscopy, ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-VIS-NIR), Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). It was carried out by Yenruedee Lhongsomboon, Dr. Dietmar Schwarz and Kanyarat Chaiphong.

Its main finding is a chemical fingerprint. Vanadium, gallium and lead place the Ethiopian material in its own compositional field, clearly separated from Paraíba tourmaline from Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique. The study also records that no locality-specific inclusion was observed, so origin for this material rests on chemistry and spectroscopy rather than on microscopy.

“A new source raises two questions for a buyer: what the stone is, and where it formed. This study answers the second one with measurements, and states plainly what the microscope cannot tell you.”

Amira Hatta, Managing Director, ICA | GemLab Global

Dr. Schwarz co-authored the 2006 study that applied LA-ICP-MS fingerprinting to Paraíba-type tourmaline from Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique (Abduriyim et al., Gems & Gemology, Vol. 42, No. 1). The Ethiopian study applies the same approach to a fourth source.

The full study, with all figures and references, is published as an Insights article and is available as a PDF. Three shorter articles cover the questions the trade is asking: whether Ethiopian material is really Paraíba, where the colour comes from, and how origin is determined.

Stones can be submitted for testing at the laboratory in Bangkok. See origin determination or plan a visit.