Elbaite
Elbaite
Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄ Properties
- Color
- Green, pink, blue, colorless, polychrome
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Density
- 3.00–3.06 g/cm³
- Category
- Mineral
Elbaite is a lithium-rich mineral species of the tourmaline supergroup, first described in 1913 on the Island of Elba — from which it takes its name. It is the most important tourmaline species gemologically: rubellite, indicolite, verdelite, Paraíba tourmaline, and achroite are all its commercial varieties.
Elbaite is the most chromatically versatile tourmaline: it can be green (verdelite), pink to red (rubellite), blue (indicolite), colorless (achroite), or show polychrome zoning within a single crystal. The celebrated watermelon tourmaline — pink core, green rim — is a concentrically zoned elbaite.
The name honors the Island of Elba, off the Tuscan coast of Italy. The pegmatitic granites of Elba — particularly those of Monte Capanne — still yield gem-quality elbaite crystals today.
Paraíba tourmaline, a copper-bearing variety of elbaite discovered in Brazil in 1989, is considered the world's most valuable gem by weight at top quality.
Formula: Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄. Trigonal system, space group R3m. X site: Na; Y site: Li and Al in variable proportions; Z site: Al. Refractive index 1.619–1.655, birefringence 0.018–0.040. Pleochroism weak to moderate. UV fluorescence variable, often inert or weakly yellow under long-wave UV.
Mining localities
- Island of Elba, Tuscany, Italy
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Nuristan, Afghanistan
- Madagascar
- California, USA
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is elbaite named after the Island of Elba?
American mineralogist Charles Palache first described the species in 1913 from specimens collected on the Island of Elba, Italy. The pegmatitic granites of Elba were producing gem-quality crystals that attracted scientific attention, and the name stuck.
What is the difference between elbaite and tourmaline?
"Tourmaline" is the name of the supergroup, comprising over 30 distinct mineral species. Elbaite is one of those species — the lithium-dominant one. Gems sold as "green tourmaline," "pink tourmaline," or "Paraíba tourmaline" are almost always elbaite.
What are rubellite, indicolite, and verdelite?
These are trade names for color varieties of elbaite: rubellite for pink-red (from manganese), indicolite for blue (from iron), verdelite for green (from iron and chromium). They are not separate mineral species — just chromatically distinct varieties of the same species.
Entry generated with Claude API (Anthropic) on data extracted from Mindat, RRUFF and Wikipedia. Not yet reviewed by a human expert. Verify data against original sources before citing in formal work.
