A New Paraíba-Type Discovery
In June 2026, a preliminary study by VP Consulting and the Laboratoire Français de Gemmologie (LFG, Paris) confirmed copper-bearing elbaite tourmaline from Abuloo village in the Guji Zone of Ethiopia's Oromia Region — the chromophore responsible for the neon blue-to-green colour associated with the legendary Paraíba tourmalines of Brazil. Of 21 rough stones examined, 10 were classified as very fine-quality, high-value gems. We source directly from this region and carry material from the same locality.
Read the full account, including the study's authorship, in our Journal: First Scientific Study Confirms Ethiopian Paraíba from Abuloo, Guji Zone.
Paraíba-Type vs. Paraíba
"Paraíba-type" is a precise geological description, not a downgrade: it refers to copper-bearing tourmaline from a locality other than the original Paraíba, Brazil deposit, sharing the same chromophore and colour mechanism. We explain the distinction, and why it matters to value, in our guide: Paraíba-Type vs. Paraíba: What Every Buyer Must Know.
Beyond Paraíba-Type
We also source tourmaline across the wider colour spectrum, from bi-colour and watermelon material to deeper green and red stones, both as rough crystal and cut and polished stones from our lapidary partners in Thailand.
Natural Ethiopian Paraíba tourmaline from Abuloo, Guji Zone.
