Named after the French island of Elba where it was first found, Elbaite follows a rich heritage
of discovery and history.

     Many know Elba as the place to which Napoleon was exiled in 1814.  Nearly a hundred years
later in 1913, Elbaite was discovered.  Bearing a rich tradition of Etruscan iron mining and forging,
politics, winemaking, and now Elbaite vugs, this little corner of the Earth has given much to our
mineral knowledge.

     To learn more of Elba's geology, visit Isola d'Elba Geologia (link is for the English version).

     Elbaite forms in three different series, the: Elbaite-Dravite Series, Elbaite- Series, and
Elbaite-Schorl Series.  All of these are part of the Tourmaline Group.

     It's chemistry is a little complex, having chemical formula: Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄.

     Note that Tourmaline is Lithium-rich; whereas, Beryl is Beryllium-rich.  It is rare for the two
different minerals to co-exist in the same pegmatite.  So, Elbaite occurs less frequently than
beryls in certain large-grained pegs.

     There are about 307 known localities worldwide, according to the mindat.org database.

Elbaite with Quartz Santa Rosa Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite with Albite on Quartz Stak Nala, Gilgit, Pakistan
Elbaite with Quartz and Lepidolite Chia Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite with Lepidolite and Albite Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite (var. Indicolite) on Lepidolite Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite Laghman, Kunar Province, Aghanistan		Elbaite Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite with Lepidolite and Cookeite Chia Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite with Quartz Barra do Salinas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite on Quartz Chia Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite Jos, Nigeria		Elbaite Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite on Quartz Chia Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite with Topaz (Nasser Collection) Shigar Valley, Gilgit, Pakistan
Elbaite Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan		Elbaite (ex Nelson Collection) Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande, California
Elbaite Scepter (ex Nelson Collection) Pederneira Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite with Quartz (ex Nelson Collection) Golconda Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite (ex Nelson Collection) Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande, California		Elbaite (ex Nelson Collection) Gillette Quarry, Haddam Neck, Connecticut
Elbaite with Herderite (ex Nelson Collection) Pederneira Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite on Quartz Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite (ex Nelson Collection) Pederneira Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite on Quartz (ex Nelson Collection) Mawi, Laghman, Nuristan, Afghanistan
Elbaite (ex Nelson Collection) Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan		Childrenite on Elbaite, (ex Nelson Collection) Paroon Valley, Kunar, Afghanistan
Elbaite with Albite and Lepidolite Pederneira Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil		Elbaite (ex Nelson Collection) Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Green Fluorite with Elbaite on Albite (View 1) (ex Nelson Collection and Obodda Collection) Stak Nala, Skardu, Gilgit, Pakistan		Green Fluorite with Elbaite on Albite (View 2) (ex Nelson Collection and Obodda Collection) Stak Nala, Skardu, Gilgit, Pakistan
Photos by and courtesy of Isaias Casanova ©2007, IC Minerals

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I would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of our fellow Elbaite
enthusiasts, collectors, authors, curators, professionals, and club members who made this
work possible.  Thanks.

Isaias Casanova, I C Minerals

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