Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Paprok, Kamdesh, Afghanistan
SIZE : 9.8 x 2.6 cm

This elbaite is a indicolite variety. The crystal is blue slightly green, its centre is lighter coloured than its base and its terminations. It measures 9.8 x 2.6 cm.

It comes from the mineral deposit of Paprok in Afghanistan. Acquired thanks to support from Total, it is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Elbaite
VARIETY :Indicololite

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 : 8.CK.05

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Elbaite

Indicolite

MNHN N°200.49

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