Elbaite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameElbaite
Chemical FormulaNa(Li,Al)3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4
Mohs Hardness7.5
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageindistinct
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity3.06
Colorsgreen, yellow, blue, purple
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalitySan Piero in Campo, Campo nell'Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, collector specimens
Associated Mineralsquartz, feldspar
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen features several prismatic Elbaite crystals exhibiting distinct color zoning, ranging from yellowish-green to bluish-purple, embedded within a matrix of white to off-white quartz and possibly feldspar. The crystals show characteristic striations parallel to their length.
Geological Context
Elbaite is a lithium-rich tourmaline typically found in granitic pegmatites and aplites, often associated with other lithium-bearing minerals, forming during the late stages of magmatic crystallization.
