Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Mandrosonoro area, province of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar
SIZE : 5.7 x 5.8 x 5.8 cm

The main crystal of this sample measures 28 x 21 mm. The crystals are red in the middle and green on its edges. This sample comes from Mandrosonoro area in Fianarantsoa in Madagascar.

Acquired thanks to support from Total, it is kept today in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Elbaite

HISTORY : Named after its type-locality: Elba Island, Italy

Species first described in 1913 by Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky (1863-1945), Russian scientist, founder of geochemistry

Type-locality: San Piero In Campo, Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Na(Al,Li)3 Al6(BO3)3 Si6O18 (OH)4
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Rhomboedric
COLOR : Pink to red, mauve, green
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous to resineous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic acicular crystals
HARDNESS : 7
DENSITY : 2,90-3,10

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Tourmaline
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/E.19-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.CK.05

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Elbaite

Elbaite

MNHN N°204.33

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