Home   Gemology    Gemstones     Elbaite

ELBAITE

Overview:

In addition to carrying the generic properties of Tourmaline, Elbaite contains all colours and, as a result, it brings the mind, body, spirit and soul into wholeness, providing a gateway into the inner being and facilitating accessing the higher spiritual realms.Elbaite belongs to the group of minerals known as the Tourmalines.

It is the most colorful member of this group. Elbaite is often cut as a gemstone, sliced into colorful cross-sections or simply appreciated as natural specimens by millions of rock collectors. The many varied colors of Elbaite make it arguably the most colorful of the precious stones. Elbaite contains many names based on its color.



A beautiful blue variety is called indicolite (also known as indigolite), the pink to red variety is called rubellite, the green variety is known as verdelite, while the most famous variety is a pink and green combination called watermelon tourmaline. Often a specimen can have more than one color zone in the same crystal. These zones can alternate in color from the inside to the outside or from the top to bottom. Elbaite is strongly pleochroic which means that a transparent crystal will appear darker when viewed down the long axis of the crystal. A green or blue Elbaite can appear black when viewed from such an angle

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 the most well-known and valuable form of Tourmaline.

Physical Properties:

Elbaite (Multicolored Tourmaline)

Elbaite Birthstone

Crystal System
Trigonal
Chemistry
Complex silicate
Specific Gravity
3
Hardness
7-7.5
Source
Sri Lanka, Brazil, Africa, USA, Australia, Afghanistan, Italy, Germany, Madagascar
Chakra
Crown and higher crown

Sign of Elbaite:Gemini

Most of the multicolored Tourmalines and almost all of the Tourmaline gemstones are of the Elbaite variety. Elbaite is perhaps the most multicolored mineral, coming in virtually every color of the spectrum. Multicolored crystals of Elbaite are well known and unsurpassed in beauty.

Usage:

Imagery, dreams, creativity and enhanced imagination, immune system, metabolism, protection, detoxification, spinal adjustments, balancing male-female energy, paranoia, dyslexia, hand-to-eye coordination, assimilation and translation of coded information, energy flow, removal of blockages. 

Legend:

This stone contains all the colors and their properties, and thus can bring the mind, body, and spirit into wholeness. It is an excellent stone for imagery and promoting dreams, and provides a gateway into the inner self and higher spiritual realms. Elbaite is named after the area of the Island of Elba, Italy.It is referred to by healers as the Peace Stone.

Occurrence:

Notable occurrences include the San Diego, California area, USA; Brazil;