Mineral Name Elbaite
First Discovered 1913
Nickel-Strunz Classification 09.CK.05
Dana Classification 63.03d.01.08
ICSD 9252
Mineral Group Silicates

 

Elbaite is a mineral in the tourmaline group which was first discovered in 1913 on the island of Elba Italy. Since that time, elbaite been found in many parts of the world. In 1994, a major locality was discovered in Canada, at O'Grady Lakes in the Yukon.

Within the metaphysical realm of minerals, elbaite, along with all other minerals in the tourmaline group, dispel fear and negativity, calms the nerves, gives inspiration and dispels grief. Sensuality is softened, concentration and eloquence improve and balance is restored in relationships. Sleep is more tranquil. Blood poisoning, consumption, anemia and lymphatic diseases are eased. All forms of tourmaline stimulate the bio magnetic, electrical and crystalline properties in the body. This electrical effect stimulates communication between the subtle bodies.

Please note that MIROFOSS does not suggest in any way that minerals should be used in place of proper medical and psychological care. This information is provided here as a reference only.

Elbaite is generally used as a gemstone or collectors mineral. However, it can be used as a minor ore of the element Lithium.

Elbaite forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks and veins in association with lepidolite, microcline, and spodumene in granite pegmatites; with andalusite and biotite in schist; and with molybdenite and cassiterite in massive hydrothermal replacement deposits

Elbaite is a sodium, lithium, aluminium boro-silicate mineral. Elbaite forms three series, with dravite, with liddicoatite, and with schorl. Due to these series, specimens with the ideal end-member formula are not found occurring naturally.

Other than in the basic mineral form, elbaite can be found in three distinct varieties:

 

Cleavage Indistinct
Colour(s) Blue, Colourless, Green, Yellow, Pink, White
Specific Gravity 3.05
Diaphaneity Transparent to Translucent to Opaque
Fracture Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.
Mohs Hardness 7.5
Luminescence Fluorescent, Short UV - weak blue to white
Luster Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak White
Habit(s) Prismatic to Striated
Radioactivity Non-radioactive
Magnetism Non-magnetic

No known health risks have been associated with elbaite. However ingestion of elbaite, as with other naturally occurring minerals, is not recommended.

The following image shows the elemental breakdown of the mineral elbaite along with the mineral crystal structure.

Crystal System Trigonal
Class Pyramidal
Axial Ratios a : c = 1 : 0.44847
Morphology Prismatic to Acicular
Optical Data Type Uniaxial (-)
Dichroism (e) Colourless
Dichroism (w) Colourless
RL Values nω = 1.633 - 1.651 nε = 1.615 - 1.630
Pleochroism Visable
Max Birefringence δ = 0.018 - 0.021 (See colour chart at right)
Surface Relief Moderate
Dispersion No
Pleochroism Weak

Elbaite can be referenced in certain current and historical texts under the following five names:

   
     

The mineral elbaite can be translated into the following select languages:
Arabic   Bulgarian   Chinese (Sim) 锂电气石
Croatian   Czech   Danish  
Dutch   Esperanto   Estonian  
Finnish   French   German Elbait
Greek   Hebrew   Hungarian  
Italian   Japanese リシア電気石 Korean 얠볟으
Latin   Lithuanian   Norwegian  
Persian   Polish   Portuguese  
Romanian   Russian Эльбаит Slovak  
Spanish Elbaita Swedish   Tagalog  
Turkish elbait Ukrainian ельбаіт Vietnamese  

Elbaite can be found in a few places around the world. The map below shows major documented concentrations of elbaite:

The MIROFOSS database offers free printable geological identification tags for personal and non-profit use. These tags can be used to properly identify mineral samples in your collection. -Click here- to download a full size jpeg image for a elbaite identification tag; which can be printed on paper or used with a plastic laser printer.

What's this?
This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to MIROFOSS articles. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by smart phone cameras. This QR Code is unique to this MIROFOSS article.

What can I do with it?
You can copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, web site, magazines, or newspaper so smart phone users can scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to this specific article.

Chemical Composition Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).
Crystallography Bradley, J.E.S. & O. Bradley (1955), Observations on the colouring of pink and green zoned tourmaline Mineralogical Magazine: 30: 26-38.
Crystallography 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.
Crystallography 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.
History 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.
Geograpcial Data Mindat.org. Retrieved on 2012-10-24
Physical Identification Webmineral.com. Retrieved on 2012-10-24
November 24, 2013 The last time this page was updated
©2017 MIROFOSS™ Foundation