Tourmaline group

Formula: (Ca,K,Na)(Al,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn)3(Al,Cr,Fe)6(BO3)3Si6O18(O,OH,F)4

Origin of name: from Sinhalese turamali = carnelian

 

Crystal system: hexagonal

Crystal class: 3m

Twinning:

Unit cell: 

 

Colour: highly variable

Diaphaneity: 

Luster: vitreous in most group members

Habit: short to long prismatic, pyramidal, fibrous, equant, massive, compact, grains

Hardness: 7 to 7.5

Specific gravity: 3.0 to 3.4

Cleavage: 2; {11-20} and {10-11} indistinct

Tenacity: 

Streak: 

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments: members of the group include: buergerite, chromdravite, dravite, elbaite, feruvite, foitite, liddicoatite, olenite, povondraite, schorl, tsilaisite and uvite

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