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Elbaite (Photo) [abbr. Elb ]

Year of discovery: 1810 (Fonte del Prete, Elba island, Italy), 1879 (Japan)

Locality list: 6 localities of ekanite

• Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄
• [Na⁺][Li⁺_1.5Al³⁺_1.5][Al³⁺₆][(OH)₃|OH|(BO₃)₃|(SiO₃)₆]^25-

• Class: Alkali-subgroup 2 < Alkali-tourmaline group < Tourmaline supergroup
• Class: Cyclosilicate (Single ring) - Borate - Hydroxide
• Fluorescence: Short UV excitation (Blue)
• Electrical: Piezoelectric, Pyroelectric
• Variety: Rebellite (Red-Pink)

• OH => F: Fluor-elbaite

• NaLi_0.5 => []Al_0.5: Rossmanite

• LiAl => Mg₂: Dravite (Series)
• LiAl => Fe₂: Schorl (Series)
• LiAl => Mn₂: Tsilaisite

• Li_0.5(OH) => Al_0.5O: Darrellhenryite

• Li_1.5Al_1.5(OH)₃ => Al₃O₃: Olenite (Series)

• NaAl_0.5(OH) => CaLi_0.5F: Liddicoatite (Series)

• Color: Green, Red, Blue, etc.
• Streak: White
• Luster: Vitreous
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Habit: Prismatic

• Cleavage: Indistinct on {1120} and {1011} (6 planes)
• Hardness: 7.5
• Density: 3.0

• System: Trigonal
• Group: 3m, R3m
• Lattice: a=15.9, c=7.1

Etymology: Elba island, Italy