Elbaite (var. Rubellite)
-
Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4
Description
Transparent, raspberry red double terminated crystal accompanied by several smaller crystals on white albite with a little white quartz. This sample appears at the bottom-left of the reconstitution of this famous pocket made by Wendell Wilson in 1985 based on photographs and descriptions by the miners who had discovered it in 1978.
Mina Jonas, Itatiaia, Minas Gerais
Collection of origin
Stephen Smale (USA), James Horner (USA), Houston Museum (USA)
Probable extraction year
1978
For the type locality, the island of Elba in Italy, and the Latin ruber "red" that evokes the variety’s red color.
Class
8 - Silicates / Cyclosilicates
Dimensions (length x with x height in cm)
12x13x16.5
Hardness (Mohs)
7.5
Density (G/cm3)
3.1
Publication
"Masterpieces of the Mineral World: Treasures From the Houston Museum of Natural Science", “Ikons, Classics and Contemporary Masterpieces of Mineralogy”, "Mineralogical Record: May-Jun 2012", "101 Minéraux et Pi
