Mindat Logo

Elbaite

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:
Name:Named after the Type Locality area of the island of Elba, Italy


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

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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1364.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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):
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.

Show
Unit Cell | Structure | Polyhedra

Style
Black Background | White Background

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Label Atoms | Off

More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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 Group
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
|OH|(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+
6
][O
 
3
|OH|(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
|OH|(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
Ca[BSiO
 
4
]
 
2
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
(Ca,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
(O,OH)
 
6
](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
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.31Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
17.5.32Tienshanite
Na
 
2
BaMnTiB
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
20
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
(Ca,Fe,Mn)Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
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
|OH|(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
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
61.3.1.6Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(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+
6
][O
 
3
|OH|(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
German names:
Elbait
Japanese names:
リシア電気石
Russian names:
Эльбаит
Spanish names:
Elbaita
Varieties:
AchroiteChromian ElbaiteCuprian ElbaiteIndicoliteRubellite
SiberiteTsilaisiteVerdelite

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: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.

Internet Links for Elbaite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Elbaite on Google
  • Look for Elbaite images on Google
  • External Links:
  • Look for Elbaite on Webmineral
  • Look for Elbaite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Elbaite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Elbaite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Elbaite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Elbaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Search for Elbaite on minvision.com
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • Find Elbaite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Elbaite specimens
  • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
  • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Elbaite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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. Mineral Specimens available here.