Schorl
/ʃɔːrl/noun
A black or dark-colored variety of tourmaline, commonly composed largely of iron-rich minerals.
Did you know?Schorl is the black form of tourmaline, a mineral famous for becoming electrically charged when heated—a property once associated with magical attraction.
Etymological Timeline
15th Century
German
schörl
“A mineral name recorded in German mining usage for black tourmaline; its deeper origin is uncertain.”
16th Century
German
Schorl
“A name used by miners and mineral writers for the black variety of tourmaline.”
1562
Latin
schorl
“A mineral term appearing in early European mineralogical writing.”
17th Century
English
schorl
“An adopted mineralogical term for black tourmaline.”
Modern English
English
schorl
“Black or dark iron-rich tourmaline, especially the common opaque variety.”
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