Green Elbaite is the most common colored variety of the tourmaline group, highly prized for its vibrant spectrum from light mint to deep forest green. Collectors look for well-terminated, striated prismatic crystals often found in pockets within granitic pegmatites. It is easily identified by its distinctive vertically striated crystal faces and lack of cleavage.
Is this green elbaite tourmaline?
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 green elbaite tourmaline with a known reference. Green Elbaite Tourmaline sits at Mohs 7-7.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Green Elbaite Tourmaline leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Green Elbaite Tourmaline typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellow-green, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals with rounded triangular cross-section.
Often confused with
Green Elbaite Tourmaline vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside green elbaite tourmaline
Minerals reported to co-occur with green elbaite tourmaline. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Li,Al,Fe,Mn)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 7-7.5
- Density
- 3.0-3.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals with Rounded Triangular Cross-section
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Gemstone, Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-500 per carat depending on saturation and clarity
Where rockhounds find green elbaite tourmaline
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- Afghanistan
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where green elbaite tourmaline typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, albite, lepidolite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals with rounded triangular cross-section habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Maine. Start trip planning there.
More green elbaite tourmaline photos
Common questions
How do you identify green elbaite tourmaline?+
Where is green elbaite tourmaline found?+
Can I find green elbaite tourmaline in the United States?+
How much is green elbaite tourmaline worth?+
What rocks look like green elbaite tourmaline?+
What minerals are found with green elbaite tourmaline?+
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Find green elbaite tourmaline on the map
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