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Crystal Structure
Li end-member of tourmaline.
External databases provide CIF (Crystallographic Information File) downloads + interactive 3D viewers. AMCSD: American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database (free, RRUFF-hosted). COD: open community-curated database.
Elemental Composition (by mass)
| Element | Mass % | Visual |
|---|---|---|
| O Oxygen | 49.38% | |
| Al Aluminum | 21.59% | |
| Si Silicon | 19.26% | |
| B Boron | 3.71% | |
| Na Sodium | 2.63% | |
| F Fluorine | 2.17% | |
| Li Lithium | 0.79% | |
| H Hydrogen | 0.46% |
Computed from simplified end-member formula. Solid-solution series, water content, and trace substitutions cause real-world variation.
IMA Abbreviation (Whitney-Evans 2010)
Elb
→ Elbaite
Li-tourmaline
Standard symbol from American Mineralogist (Whitney & Evans, 2010). Used in thin-section labeling, phase diagrams, and IMA-style species records.
Pronunciation
/ˈɛlbaɪt/
↔ EL-bite
named for Elba Island
Diaphaneity (Transparency)
transparent
Gem-grade Li-tourmaline.
Specific Gravity
2.90–3.10
g/cm³
medium
Li-rich; lowest SG tourmaline.
For comparison: water = 1.00, glass ≈ 2.5, quartz = 2.65, corundum ≈ 4.00, galena ≈ 7.50, gold ≈ 19.3.
Mohs 7–7.5
Vickers (~) 1400 HV
Knoop (~) 1100 HK
Geological setting
Pegmatite
Element composition by mass
Formula: Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄ · molar mass: 936.71 g/mol
| O | 52.95% | |
| Al | 21.6% | |
| Si | 17.99% | |
| B | 3.46% | |
| Na | 2.45% | |
| Li | 1.11% | |
| H | 0.43% |
Computed from atomic weights (IUPAC 2021). Site-occupancy groups (Fe,Mn) split equally.
Mohs Hardness
7–7.5
Elbaite sits at 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale — harder than glass; scratches steel.
Colors:
Streak
White
White
Crystal system
Trigonal
Trigonal
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SilicatesSilicates (Cyclosilicates)
TL;DR · 1 min read
Elbaite (Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄) is the lithium-bearing end-member of the tourmaline group and the species responsible for the iconic gem-color tourmalines. Different trace elements produce strikingly different varieties: rubellite (red-pink, manganese), indicolite (blue, iron), verdelite (green, iron+chrome), watermelon (zoned pink-green), and Paraíba (electric blue-green, copper).
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Elbaite (Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄) is the lithium-bearing end-member of the tourmaline group and the species responsible for the iconic gem-color tourmalines. Different trace elements produce strikingly different varieties: rubellite (red-pink, manganese), indicolite (blue, iron), verdelite (green, iron+chrome), watermelon (zoned pink-green), and Paraíba (electric blue-green, copper). Elbaite is named for Elba, Italy — its type locality.
More minerals to explore #
Beryl (绿柱石)
Hexagonal
Dravite (镁电气石)
Trigonal
Uvite (钙镁电气石)
Trigonal
Benitoite (蓝锥矿)
Hexagonal
Sugilite (舒俱徕石)
Hexagonal
Dioptase (透视石)
Trigonal
Other Members of the Tourmaline Group
电气石族