Skip To Content
Go to gemstones.com homepage
Sign In
Recommended searches
Gemopedia
  • Ruby
  • Sapphire
  • Tanzanite
  • Diamond
  • Emerald
  • Opal
  • Moissanite
  • Peridot
  • All Gemstones in Gemopedia
Shop Gemstones
  • Shop Jedora Gemstones
  • Shop JTV Gemstones
Videos
  • All About Black Diamonds
  • Unboxing a Million Dollars in Gemstones!
  • Unboxing Emeralds: Gemologist vs. Geologist
  • Unboxing Rough Diamonds
  • Unboxing Garnet: Rhodolite, Pyrope, Demantoid
  • Marvel Cinematic Gemstones
  • All About Pearls and How They're Made
  • Fun Facts About Tanzanite
  • Freshwater Pearls vs. Saltwater Pearls
  • All Videos
Articles
  • Gemstone Collecting
  • Gemstone Beauty
  • Gemstone Color
  • Gemstone Origins
  • Optical Properties
  • Rare Gemstone Collecting
  • Gemstone Luster
  • Phenomenal Gemstones
  • All Articles
Showcase Collections
  • Quartz Gemstones
  • Organic Gemstones
  • American Gemstones
  • Birthstones
  • Mineral Specimens
  • Colors of Tourmaline
  • All Showcases
Gemstone Discovery App
  • Download the App
About Us
  • About Us
Feedback
  • Survey
Account
  • Account Information
  • Author Biography
  • Articles
  • Gemstones Home
  • Gemopedia
  • Elbaite

Elbaite

Tourmaline

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: November 2021
Elbaite Polished Elbaite Rough Elbaite Jewelry
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Elbaite Colors
  • Countries of Origin
  • Care

The tourmaline family consists of at least 14 distinct minerals, but the elbaite variety accounts for nearly all gem-quality tourmaline. It was named for the colored and colorless tourmalines found on the picturesque island of Elba off the western coast of Italy. Although best known in shades of green and red, elbaite can also be blue, purple, yellow, or colorless. Notable varieties of elbaite include rubellite, green tourmaline, indicolite, watermelon tourmaline, and Paraiba tourmaline.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Elbaite
Species
Tourmaline
Transparency
Transparent - Translucent
Dispersion
Strength: Moderate Fire Value: 0.017
Refractive Index
1.614-1.666
Birefringence
0.018-0.020
Optic Character
Uniaxial
Optic Sign
Negative
Polariscope Reaction
Doubly Refractive (DR)
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert
LWUV: Inert
Pleochroism
Dichroic, moderate to strong, varying shades of body color
Hardness
7-7.5
Streak
White
Specific Gravity
2.900-3.100
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Green elbaite tourmaline stones are type I clarity stones. Blue, purple, orange, yellow and bi-color or parti-colored elbaite tourmalines are type II clarity stones. Stones might contain liquid and gas inclusions that are long and thin, reflective gas-filled fractures and color zoning.
Luster
Vitreous
Stability
Very Good
Fracture
Conchoidal, Subconchoidal, Uneven
Cleavage
Poor, in two directions
Chemical Name
Complex boro-silicate of Al, Li and Na
Chemical Formula
Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Crystal System
Trigonal
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Elbaite Colors

  • White Elbaite
    White
  • Yellow Elbaite
    Yellow
  • Red Elbaite
    Red
  • Multi-color Elbaite
    Multi-color
  • Bi-color Elbaite
    Bi-color
  • Blue Elbaite
    Blue
  • Brown Elbaite
    Brown
  • Colorless Elbaite
    Colorless
  • Green Elbaite
    Green
  • Orange Elbaite
    Orange
  • Pink Elbaite
    Pink
  • Purple Elbaite
    Purple
  • Blue Elbaite
    Blue

Countries of Origin

Afghanistan; Russian Federation; Mozambique; Pakistan; Unknown; United States of America; Brazil

Care

Normal Care

Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

Sign up for the latest from Gemstones.com!

 
 
  • About Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us
  • Request a Partner Invitation

©  America's Collectibles Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.