Help with Mahenges

[chrono]

Marlow,
Sadly, I've seen ordinary green and blue tourmaline advertised as Paraiba tourmaline based on origin alone.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Marlow,
Sadly, I've seen ordinary green and blue tourmaline advertised as Paraiba tourmaline based on origin alone.

Same here.

 

[Marlow]

I know!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Not all Mahenges react to UV light, so if that is a quality you prefer, make sure to inquire.

I doubt that there are red, pink or orangypink ( a little bit vanadium is responsible for that) with a good to fine color ( neon or not )
without fluorescence. Mahenge are colored by chrome with little to very little amount of iron.

Iron kills fluor and iron (Fe 2+) together with chrome will produce violet, bluishpurple or blue without chrome.

Fe3+ will brownish colors.

I think a neon or vivid colored pink or red without fluor is not possible ( LW UV). All my mahenge bought fron Tan ( good old times ) from neon pink to babypink show a strong fluor - as expected.

The term Mahenge is pretty subjective. Some people/vendors use it to indicate any red family spinel from Mahenge, Tanzania, while others use the term to denote the famed neon red/pink stones from the same location. I've actually seen red family spinels from Mahenge, Tanzania that have very weak to no fluor. They remind me more of rhodolite garnets, or other red family garnets, than the famed Mahenge color so highly sought after. I believe you are correct that the more neon stones must have strong fluor. Neon is also subjective as well, LOL!

Now, there is nothing wrong with rhodolite or other red family garnets, but a fine Mahenge spinel should not look like a dead ringer for a garnet. The color literally pops, especially in sunlight. That's a good way to judge them IMO.

So true LD. I have a red "Mahenge" that is just a red spinel that is a bit darker than ideal. I never refer to it as Mahenge, even though that is where it was mined. It does have nice flour in sunlight though.

 

[SparkliesLuver]

Have you received the stone, rwillya?

 

[SparkliesLuver]

OP? Where did you go...