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Identity HelpBlue Tourmaline labeled as coming from Arizona

17th Jan 2017 07:03 UTCIan Nicastro

This piece came from the collection of an old retired geologist, I think the label is wrong.

I'm fairly certain it is Elbaite... however I highly doubt the origin as AZ, but I wanted feedback.

Label says Dripping Springs Oracle. And the geologist said it was from "the big mine in Dripping Springs, Arizona."

I see Dripping Springs Mtns are in Pineal Co and are listed as having 'Tourmaline' reported from there, but I assume this was just Schorl. I see that area had the 79 Mine, Christmas Mine and Ray Mine, none of which should produce Elbaite. Dripping Springs Mines from there has no photos, but looks like yet another multiple metal ore mine.

Oracle is in Pinal County, and previously I talked to someone who grew up in the Oracle district near Willow Springs Ranch area, and she talked about finding Schorl and lots and lots of muscovite growing up, but said colored Elbaite never came from there.

I'm thinking this is a Brazilian Elbaite.

Click on the photo to see the non grainy version.

17th Jan 2017 16:32 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

If there is no geological reason for elbaite not to be found in that area I don't think you can rule it out. It could have been a one time small find. With no matrix it would be impossible to say with any confidence where it is from. You could try getting EDS done on it and comparing the results to elbaite of the same color from Brazil but I don't know if that would be definitive. Either way you would have to do a literature search to find out what sort of chemistry to expect from Brazilian elbaite. The other possibility is that it is from California, again same problem as Brazil.