Black Kyanite Vs Black Tourmaline: What’s The Difference?

There are countless varieties of crystals and stones in the world. And to the untrained eye, many of them might seem indistinguishable from one another.

Obviously, if you are looking to get a particular crystal for yourself, this might create a problem.

black kyanite vs black tourmaline

After all, different crystals have different properties, and you would want to get the right one so that your specific purpose is fulfilled.

So, what do you do in that case? Well, you need to do some research and learn about the various properties and features of the crystal or stone you want.

You need to be able to differentiate between the crystal you want and its lookalikes.

Take, for example, black kyanite and black tourmaline.

At first glance, they may appear to be the same crystal.

However, there are major disparities between the two, and you need to be aware of them.

Let’s find out more.

Black Kyanite Vs Black Tourmaline

It can be tricky to distinguish between these two black crystals, so, below, I’ve broken down some of the main traits of black tourmaline vs black kyanite.

Appearance

Both these stones are black in colour with a similar pattern on their surfaces.

However, if you look at them closely, you will realize that they differ in terms of darkness.

Black kyanite’s colour may vary from dark grey to dark black, but black tourmaline is almost always found in a much darker shade of black.

Also, black kyanite often has white streaks running along its surface, while there are no such features on a black tourmaline.

As for the shape, black kyanite has an arrowhead-like shape, while black tourmaline is often seen in a cylindrical shape (though it can be cut and polished into any shape).

Mineral Composition

Black kyanite is composed of aluminium and silicate.

Black tourmaline, on the other hand, is composed of aluminium, silicon, boron, and hydrate molecules.

There are also variants of this stone that contain lithium, magnesium, and calcium.

Hardness

Hardness plays a crucial role in selecting and taking care of a crystal.

After all, if your crystal or stone has a lower hardness, you need to protect it from certain elements to prevent damage.

You also need to be aware of how to cleanse it as cleansing it with water, for example, can cause irreparable damage.

Hardness is also a key way of identifying black tourmaline vs black kyanite.

Black kyanite has a hardness of 4.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, while black tourmaline comes in at 7.

black tourmaline vs black kyanite

Countries of Origin

Black kyanite is found all over the world, but it is mainly mined in Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, and Tibet.

Black tourmaline, on the other hand, comes from Africa, Madagascar, and Pakistan.

Ruling Planet

When it comes to crystals, a ruling planet is one that has the most influence over its energies.

It’s important to know the ruling planet of your crystal since that might play a part in your use of its energies.

Black kyanite is ruled by Jupiter and Saturn.

If you didn’t already know, Jupiter is associated with wisdom, healing, and good fortune, while Saturn is associated with justice, boundaries, and spirituality.

Black tourmaline is ruled by Venus and Jupiter. Venus, as we all know, represents beauty, love, romance, and art.

Chakras

Different crystals are associated with different chakras.

Just as there are specialist doctors for the different organs in the body, there are specialist crystals for each chakra.

Black kyanite promotes balance and healing in all chakras of the body but it is especially adept at healing the root chakra.

Black tourmaline is mainly associated with the root chakra.

Elements

It is said that the entire universe is composed of five elements: fire, water, earth, air, and ether.

It’s important to understand the element associated with your crystal since that comes into play in your healing ritual.

Black kyanite is associated with the earth element. As such, it has nurturing energies that can help you feel grounded and centred.

In many spiritual circles, black tourmaline is said to be associated with the water element.

As such, it helps you with balancing your emotions and enhances your intuition.

Numerology

As crystals are associated with different planets, chakras, and elements, they are also associated with different numbers.

You might already know that each number holds a specific type of energy and can greatly influence your life.

Black kyanite has the energies of the number 6.

In numerology, 6 represents perfection, stability, symmetry, harmony, and responsibility.

On the other hand, black tourmaline has the energies of the numbers 3 or 4, depending on the variant in question.

The number 3 represents optimism, creativity, curiosity, and inspiration.

The number 4 represents order, determination, duty, reliability, and hard work.

black kyanite vs black tourmaline

Physical Healing Properties

People often use crystals and stones to heal their physical ailments.

Again, different crystals have different healing properties. So, it’s important to know which crystal would be appropriate for your particular need.

Black kyanite is known to relieve pain, heal bones, repair muscles, reduce inflammation, and aid in healing mental health issues.

Black tourmaline is popular for its healing effect on the circulatory system of the body and for promoting a good mood.

It can even help you get rid of heavy elements from your environment, thus purifying it.

Metaphysical Properties

There is no doubt that both these stones possess powerful metaphysical properties. But they differ in the way they work and also their influence over humans and the environment.

Black kyanite is often used for grounding. People meditate with it to reestablish their connection with Mother Earth and feel balanced within themselves.

As mentioned, this stone works on the root chakra and helps you feel like a part of the planet.

It is also often used as a vital part of feng shui. People place this stone in the four corners of their homes to create a protective grid.

Black tourmaline, since it is a root chakra stone, is also used for grounding purposes.

It is quite effective at healing one’s anxiety and panic attacks.

People also use it to treat nightmares and remove negative energy beings in the surrounding.

One other important use of black tourmaline is scrying.

Many psychics and spirit workers use this black stone, in the form of a pendulum, to communicate with spirits.

You can also work with black tourmaline in its tumbled form to help you foretell events from the future or use it regularly in your meditation practice to bring out your latent psychic abilities.

Final Thoughts

Black tourmaline and black kyanite do appear very similar, but these crystals work in different ways and have different properties and purposes.

If you’re looking to buy either of these crystals, it’s important to be able to identify black kyanite vs black tourmaline.

Lianne