Oxy-dravite is a rare member of the tourmaline group, characterized by its specific oxygen-rich crystal structure. It typically appears as elongated, striated prismatic crystals and is often indistinguishable from common dravite without advanced chemical analysis like electron microprobe testing.
Is this oxy-dravite?
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 oxy-dravite with a known reference. Oxy-dravite 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. Streak: pink.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic, striated, columnar.
Often confused with
Oxy-dravite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside oxy-dravite
Minerals reported to co-occur with oxy-dravite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Al₂Mg)(Al₅Mg)(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃O
- Mohs hardness
- ~7
- Density
- 3.073 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pink
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, striated, columnar
- Cleavage
- Poor/indistinct on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In quartz-muscovite schist
Where rockhounds find oxy-dravite
Classic worldwide localities
- Osarara, Narok district, Kenya
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In quartz-muscovite schist. If you start seeing quartz, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, striated, columnar. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify oxy-dravite?+
Where is oxy-dravite found?+
What rocks look like oxy-dravite?+
What minerals are found with oxy-dravite?+
What kind of rock does oxy-dravite form in?+
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Find oxy-dravite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
