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Elbaite

Big Photo

Dunton Gem Quarry, Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
© Van King

Show Elbaite Photos (1974)
Formula:
[Na][(Li,Al)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
System:TrigonalColour:Green, red to pink, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, ResinousHardness:7½
Name:Named after the Type Locality area of the island of Elba, Italy


Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series, Dravite-Elbaite Series, and the Elbaite-Schorl Series.

See also Unnamed (F-analogue of elbaite).

Classification of Elbaite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.19-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CK.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
K : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered single rings, with insular complex anions
Dana 7th edition ID:61.3.1.10
Dana 8th edition ID:61.3.1.8

61 : CYCLOSILICATES Six-Membered Rings
3 : Six-Membered Rings with borate groups
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.5.5

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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Type Occurrence of Elbaite

Type Locality:Fonte del Prete, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell'Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
Year of Discovery:1913

Occurrences of Elbaite

Geological Setting:Lithium-rich granitic pegmatites, metamorphic rocks and high temperature hydrothermal veins.

Physical Properties of Elbaite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Green, red to pink, blue, orange, yellow, colorless.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):7½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
on {1120} and {1011}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.9 - 3.1 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.069 g/cm3

Crystallography of Elbaite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:R3m
Cell Parameters:a = 15.86(6) Å, c = 7.11(2) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.448
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,548.84 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Prismatic to acicular.
Twinning:Rare on {1011}{4041}
Structure
  Reference
Bosi F Agrosi G Lucchesi S Melchiorre G Scandale E (2005) Mn-tourmaline from island of Elba (Italy): Crystal chemistry. Sample: Elb2rim. American Mineralogist 90:1661-1668.

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More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Elbaite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.633 - 1.651 nε = 1.615 - 1.630
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.018 - 0.021

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:O- Pink, pale green, pale to deep blue
E- Colorless, yellow, olive-green, purplish

Chemical Properties of Elbaite

Formula:
[Na][(Li,Al)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
Essential elements:Al, B, H, Li, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, H, Li, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,Cu,Ti,Ca,F

Relationship of Elbaite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Dravite (see here)
Forms a series with Schorl (see here)
Forms a series with Liddicoatite (see here)
Member of:Tourmaline
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.CK.05Buergerite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Al
 
6
][O
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Chromdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Dravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Foitite
[ ][Fe
2+
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Liddicoatite
[Ca][Li
 
2
Al][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Olenite
(Na,[ ])[(Al,Li)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(O,OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Povondraite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Fe
3+
4
Mg
 
2
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Schorl
[Na][Fe
2+
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Uvite
[Ca][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Magnesiofoitite
[ ][Mg
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
 )][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Rossmanite
[ ][LiAl
 
2
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Vanadiumdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][V
3+
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.05Oxy-Dravite
Na (MgAl
 
2
)(MgAl
 
5
)Si
 
6
O
 
18
(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
O
9.CK.05Oxy-rossmanite
[ ][LiAl
 
2
]Al
 
6
(BO
 
3
)
 
3
[Si
 
6
O
 
18
](OH)
 
3
(O)
9.CK.10Abenakiite-(Ce)
Na
 
26
Ce
 
6
[O|SO
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CK.15Scawtite
Ca
 
7
Si
 
6
(CO
 
3
)O
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
9.CK.20Steenstrupine-(Ce)
Na
 
14
Mn
2+
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
Ce
 
6
(Zr,Th)[(OH)
 
2
|HPO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
|(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
 
2
]·2H
 
2
O
9.CK.20Thorosteenstrupine
CaMnThSi
 
4
O
 
11
(OH)F·6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.5.1Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
17.5.2Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
17.5.3Searlesite
NaBSi
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
17.5.4Olenite
(Na,[ ])[(Al,Li)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(O,OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.6Kalborsite
K
 
6
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
|Al
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
20
]
17.5.7Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.5.8Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
17.5.9Liddicoatite
[Ca][Li
 
2
Al][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.10Datolite
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.11Danburite
CaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
17.5.12Howlite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
SiO
 
9
(OH)
 
5
17.5.13Bakerite
Ca
 
4
B
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|HBO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.14Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
·12.5H
 
2
O
17.5.15Kornerupine
Mg
 
3
Al
 
6
(Si,Al,B)
 
5
O
 
21
(OH)
17.5.16Harkerite
Ca
 
24
Mg
 
8
Al
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
32
(BO
 
3
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
(H
 
2
O,Cl)
17.5.17Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.18Stillwellite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
 
5
17.5.19Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ce,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
](OH)
 
2
17.5.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
O
 
12
(OH,F)·nH
 
2
O
17.5.21Okanoganite-(Y)
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Y,Ce)
 
12
Si
 
6
B
 
2
O
 
27
F
 
14
17.5.22Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.23Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.24Cappelenite-(Y)
Ba(Y,Ce)
 
6
Si
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
24
F
 
2
17.5.25Dumortierite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
7
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.26Holtite
(Ta,Sb)Al
 
6
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.27Dravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.28 Ferridravite
17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.30Uvite
[Ca][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.31Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
17.5.32Tienshanite
KNa
 
3
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
6
Mn
 
6
(Ti
4+
 
,Nb)
 
6
B
 
12
Si
 
36
O
 
114
(O,OH,F)
 
11
17.5.33Leucosphenite
BaNa
 
4
Ti
 
2
B
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
30
17.5.34Taramellite
Ba
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.35Titantaramellite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.36Nagashimalite
Ba
 
4
(V,Ti)
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
17.5.37Chromdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.38Wawayandaite
Ca
 
6
Mn
 
2
BBe
 
9
Si
 
6
O
 
23
(OH,Cl)
 
15
17.5.39Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
17.5.40Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.41Axinite
17.5.42Tinzenite
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.44Schorl
[Na][Fe
2+
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.45Buergerite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Al
 
6
][O
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.46Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.48Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.5.49Grandidierite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.50Hyalotekite
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
 
6
(B,Si,Al)
 
2
(Si,Be)
 
10
O
 
28
(F,Cl)
17.5.51Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
61.3.1.1Foitite
[ ][Fe
2+
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.2Magnesiofoitite
[ ][Mg
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
 )][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.3Rossmanite
[ ][LiAl
 
2
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.4Liddicoatite
[Ca][Li
 
2
Al][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.5Uvite
[Ca][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.6Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.7Buergerite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Al
 
6
][O
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.8Povondraite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Fe
3+
4
Mg
 
2
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.9Olenite
(Na,[ ])[(Al,Li)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(O,OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.11Dravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.12Schorl
[Na][Fe
2+
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.13Chromdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.14Vanadiumdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][V
3+
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]

Other Names for Elbaite

Synonyms:
Elbaite (of Vernadsky)Lithia Tourmaline
Other Languages:
German:Elbait
Japanese:リシア電気石
Russian:Эльбаит
Spanish:Elbaita
Varieties:
Chromian ElbaiteCuprian ElbaiteSiberiteTsilaisite

Other Information

Electrical:Pyroelectric, piezoelectric
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:Gemstone

References for Elbaite

Reference List:Klaproth, M.H. (1810): Untersuchung des Rubellites aus Mähren, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Fünfter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 86-90

Bradley, J.E.S. & O. Bradley (1955), Observations on the colouring of pink and green zoned tourmaline Mineralogical Magazine: 30: 26-38.

Barsanov, G.P. and Yakovleva, M.E. (1966) Elbaite and certain rare varieities of tourmaline. Akademiya Nauk SSSR, Mineralogicheshkii Muzei, Moscow: 17: 3-25.

Manning, P.G. (1969), An optical absorption study of the origin of colour and pleochrism in pink and brown tourmalines Canadian Mineralogist: 9: 678-690.

Donnay, Gabrielle & R. Barton (1972), Refinement of the crystal structure of elbaite and the mechanism of tourmaline solid solution: Tschermaks Mineral. Petrogr. Mitt.: 18: 273-286.

Gorskaya, M.G., Frank-Kamenetskaya, O.V., Rozhdestvenskaya, I.V., and Frank-Kamenetskii, V.A. (1982) Refinement of the crystal structure of Al-rich elbaite, and some aspects of the crystal chemistry of tourmalines. Soviet Physics: Crystallography: 27: 63-66.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Agrosì, G., Bosi, F., Lucchesi, S., Melchiorre, G., and Scandale, E. (2006) Mn-tourmaline crystals from island of Elba (Italy): Growth history and growth marks. American Mineralogist: 91: 944-952.

Ertl., A. (2008): About the nomenclature and the type locality of elbaite. Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft, 154, 35-44. http://www.uibk.ac.at/mineralogie/oemg/bd_154/154_035-044.pdf

Articles/Blogs about Elbaite

Article entries:
Geology of the Anita (Magee) Tourmaline Mine by Richard B. Saul 1958Scott L. Ritchie
TGMS 2008 - The Tourmaline Queen MineJolyon Ralph
Fipp 2008 Brazil Gem ShowEdgar Poubel de Matos Fernandes
Pegmatites: How to Locate a New Mineral Rich LocalityGary Powell

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    Localities for Elbaite

    Show Locality List (379 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 18th Nov 2009 18:15:18