Fluor-uvite is a calcium-magnesium-rich member of the tourmaline group, typically forming short, stout prismatic crystals. It is most commonly found in metamorphic rocks such as marbles or contact metamorphic skarns where it often exhibits a dark brown or green color.
Is this fluor-uvite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch fluor-uvite with a known reference. Fluor-uvite sits at Mohs 7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Fluor-uvite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Fluor-uvite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, yellow-brown, dark green, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Fluor-uvite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside fluor-uvite
Minerals reported to co-occur with fluor-uvite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca(Mg₃)(MgAl₅)(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃F
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 3.0-3.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Specimen
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Carbonate Rocks and Skarns
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find fluor-uvite
Classic worldwide localities
- Uva Province, Sri Lanka
- Brumado, Bahia, Brazil
- De Kalb, New York, USA
- Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic carbonate rocks and skarns country — that is the host setting where fluor-uvite typically forms. If you start seeing magnesite, dolomite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find fluor-uvite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
