Mineral Factbook

Rubellite

Varietyof Elbaite

Rubellite is pink to red gem tourmaline (elbaite). As a variety of Elbaite, it shares that species' composition (Na(Al1.5Li1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)), crystal structure, and hardness; the distinction is the appearance defined above.

Photos

Rubellite specimen photo
Reinhard Kraasch · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Rubellite specimen photo
Eric Polk · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Rubellite specimen photo
Eric Polk · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Rubellite specimen photo
Mauro Cateb · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

About Elbaite

Full reference data — crystallography, X-ray diffraction, and cited physical properties — is on the Elbaite species page.

FormulaNa(Al1.5Li1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Density (calculated)3.152
Crystal systemtrigonal
Streakwhite