Elbaite

Infobox mineral
name = Elbaite
category = Silicate mineral

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caption =
formula = Na(LiAl)₃Al₆Si₆O₁₈(BO₃)₃(OH)₄
molweight =
color = Green, red to pink, blue, orange, yellow, colorless, multicolored
habit = Prismatic; striated
system = Trigonal
cleavage = Poor/Indistinct on {1120} and {1011}
fracture = Sub Conchoidal
mohs = 7½
luster = Vitreous
refractive = nω = 1.635 - 1.650 nε = 1.615 - 1.632
opticalprop = Uniaxial (-)
birefringence = δ = 0.020
streak = White
density = 2.9 - 3.2
diaphaneity = Transparent to opaque
other =
references = [http://www.mindat.org/min-1364.html Mindat] [http://webmineral.com/data/Elbaite.shtml Webmineral data]
var1 = Achroite | var1text = colorless
var2 = Indicolite | var2text = blue
var3 = Rubellite | var3text = red to pink
var4 = Verdelite | var4text = green

Elbaite, a sodium, lithium, aluminium boro-silicate, is a mineral species belonging to the tourmaline group. Elbaite forms three series, with dravite, with liddicoatite, and with schorl. Due to these series specimens with the ideal end-member formula are not found occurring natually.

As a gemstone, elbaite is reckoned to be one of the most desirable of the tourmaline group because of the variety and depth of its colours and quality of the crystals. Originally discovered on the Island of Elba, Italy in 1913 it has since been found in many parts of the world. In 1994 a major locality was discovered in Canada, at O'Grady Lakes in the Yukon.

References