Dravite Tourmaline Crystal, Tanzania

TOURMALINE, variety UVITE. The crystal has dark brown color with a hint of red on one of the edges. Red Uvite crystals are far less common then green ones. Luster is vitreous. The crystal is 1.4 inch in length. The white crystals are Calcite rhombohedrons. From the Brumado area of Bahia, Brazil.

UVITE is a member of the Tourmaline group. It is a calcium, magnesium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Uvite occurs primarily in calcium- and boron-rich, metamorphic and skarn-type environments. In 2020, the International Mineralogical Association redefined Uvite as two separate minerals that are end-members of a solid-solution series: Uvite now refers to the hydroxyl-dominant end-member, while Fluor-uvite is the correct name for the fluorine-dominant end-member.

Location: Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil

Metaphysical properties: Uvite diminishes fears and promotes self-confidence, awakens one from illusions, brings an awareness of reality, and enhances fortitude.

Specimen size: 1.4 x 1.3 x 0.8 inches

Specimen weight: 20 grams (0.7 ounces)

TOURMALINE, variety UVITE. Thumbnail-size crystal has dark red color. The red is visible under direct lighting. Red uvite crystals are far less common then green ones. Luster is vitreous. The crystal is 1.0 inch in length. From the Brumado area of Bahia, Brazil.

UVITE is a member of the Tourmaline group. It is a calcium, magnesium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Uvite occurs primarily in calcium- and boron-rich, metamorphic and skarn-type environments. In 2020, the International Mineralogical Association redefined Uvite as two separate minerals that are end-members of a solid-solution series: Uvite now refers to the hydroxyl-dominant end-member, while Fluor-uvite is the correct name for the fluorine-dominant end-member.

Location: Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil

Metaphysical properties: Uvite diminishes fears and promotes self-confidence, awakens one from illusions, brings an awareness of reality, and enhances fortitude.

Specimen size: 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches

Specimen weight: 10 grams (0.4 ounces)

TOURMALINE, variety RUBELLITE on Quartz. Three, translucent crystals with cranberry red color. Luster is vitreous. Sides are striated. The longest crystal is 1.2 inches in length. From the famous Cruzeiro Mine in Brazil.

This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

RUBELLITE is the red, lithium-rich variety of the Tourmaline group. It is a sodium, lithium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. 

Location: Cruzeiro mine, São José da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Cruzeiro Mine is one of the most important gem and specimen mines in the world. It has been mined for tourmalines and other mineral specimens since the 1950’s. There are at least five distinct pegmatites worked in the mine.

Specimen size: 1.8 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches

Specimen weight: 15 grams (0.5 ounces)

Large ELBAITE TOURMALINE. Single crystal with dark green color. The entire crystal is translucent. One end is terminated, with minimal damage. Luster is vitreous. Sides are striated. The crystal is 3.4 inches in length. Pictures show with and without a light on the side to illustrate the translucency. 

ELBAITE is a member of the Tourmaline group. It is a sodium, lithium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. 

Location: Araçuaí pegmatite district, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Araçuaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil is known for its world class varieties of Tourmaline and Beryl.

Specimen size: 3.4 x 0.6 x 0.5 inches

Specimen weight: 35 grams (1.2 ounces)

TOURMALINE, variety DRAVITE. Large, dark brown crystal. Muscovite coats what appears to be a small Dravite crystal on the terminated end of the main crystal. Luster is vitreous. Sides are striated. The crystal is 1.6 inches in length. From the Power’s Farm location in New York, famous for its Dravite and Schorl Tourmalines.

This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

DRAVITE is a dark brown to black variety of the Tourmaline group. It is a sodium, magnesium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 on the Mohs scale. 

Location: Power’s Farm, Pierrepont, St. Lawrence Co., New York, USA

Specimen size: 1.6 x 1.1 x 0.9 inches

Specimen weight: 55 grams (1.9 ounces)

TOURMALINE, variety RUBELLITE. Single, translucent crystal with cranberry red color. One end is terminated. Luster is vitreous. Sides are striated. The crystal is 1.9 inches in length. Pictures show with and without a light on the side to illustrate the translucency. From the famous Cruzeiro Mine in Brazil.

This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

RUBELLITE is the red, lithium-rich variety of the Tourmaline group. It is a sodium, lithium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. 

Location: Cruzeiro mine, São José da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Cruzeiro Mine is one of the most important gem and specimen mines in the world. It has been mined for tourmalines and other mineral specimens since the 1950’s. There are at least five distinct pegmatites worked in the mine.

Specimen size: 1.9 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches

Specimen weight: 14.5 grams (0.5 ounces)

Luinaite-(OH) on Quartz, Washington

ELBAITE TOURMALINE, variety WATERMELON. Single crystal with green color on the ends and pink in the middle. One end is terminated, with minor damage. Luster is vitreous. The crystal is 1.3 inches in length. Pictures show with and without a light on the side to illustrate the translucency. From the famous Himalaya Mine in California.

ELBAITE crystal with a blue INDICOLITE cap. The blue cap is translucent. Luster is vitreous. The crystal is 1.0 inch in length. Albite is the small white spot on the crystal. This specimen is thumbnail size. ELBAITE is a member of the Tourmaline group. INDICOLITE is the blue variety of Elbaite.

Two blue, translucent TOURMALINE, variety ELBAITE, crystals with pink LEPIDOLITE Mica from the famous Cruzeiro mine in Brazil. Minor white Calcite. Luster is vitreous. The longest crystal is 1.2 inches. This specimen is thumbnail size as it fits in a 1.25 inch perky box. Pictures are with and without a direct light on the side of the crystals to show the blue color and translucency. 

Vitreous black TOURMALINE from the Harney Peak Pegmatite of South Dakota.

Rubellite Tourmaline Crystal, Brazil

Uvite with Magnesite, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil