Color: Pink

Cut - Pear cut

Lustre - Excellent lustre

Origin: Pakistan

Clarity-Transparent / Eye Clean

Treatment: None, Untreated

Measuraments: 10.09x6.86x4.55mm

Certificate: GSI 72490310102

Elbaite, chemically is Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3OH, a very chemically complex mineral containing sodium, lithium, aluminum, silicon, boron, oxygen and hydrogen. It is a member of the tourmaline group. The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word “Thuramali,” meaning colored stone. The pronunciation of the word changed to tourmaline by the linguistic mangling of European traders from the Dutch East India company that imported stones of multicolored tourmaline, likely mostly elbaite and dravite from Sri Lanka in the 17th and 18th centuries. The tourmaline group minerals, including elbaite are fondly known as the “garbage pail minerals” by geologists because they act as a sink for many incompatible lithophile elements (lithium, boron, fluorine) that cannot fit in the crystal structures of most rock forming minerals. Tourmaline, especially elbaite isn’t garbage at all in the eyes of gemologists, jewelrymakers, and mineral collectors who value the mineral for its diverse, vivid coloration, high luster, and hardness. Elbaite can be faceted into beautiful gemstones or wirewrapped- both are appropriate for the mineral considering its high hardness of 7 1/2 on Moh’s hardness scale.

Elbaite crystals are colorless if completely chemically pure, but are usually brightly colored. Iron impurities color elbaite green and blue while manganese impurities color elbaite pink and red. Pink and red elbaite crystals showing high color saturation usually have been exposed to elevated levels of natural geological radiation when they are forming deep in the earth. This radiation is caused by decay of potassium-40 and oxidizes the manganese from Mn(II) to Mn(III) which increases the color saturation. This exposure to radiation does not make the crystals dangerous in any way. Elbaite can be artificially treated or enhanced after collecting. The most common treatment is irradiation, which deepens the color similar to how it happens naturally. Irradiation in elbaite stones is usually impossible to detect. elbaite can also be heat treated to enhance color. Clarity enhancement of rarer elbaite such as Paraiba tourmaline seriously detracts their value.

Payments:
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Shipment:


We ship 2-3 days after we receive complete payment. Combined shipping possible.

Return:
Any item may be returned for refund within 7 days of receipt (the date you receive the item through the shipper).
Item(s) must be returned in original condition. If an item is damaged it can not be refunded.