This rare Blue Tourmaline Indicolite crystal is from Afghanistan. This magnificent specimen made me think of blue Indicolite waves with Calcite whitetops on a dark sea. The Calcite and other minerals present are UV reactive. This wonderful specimen was obtained in the gem-fields of Afghanistan for Rocks and Things by our partner, Lawrence Handicrafts.
Indicolite is a member of the Elbaite mineral family. Elbaite is a complex lithium-rich borosilicate mineral. It can be any colour of the rainbow, and crystals can be multi-coloured. Elbaite usually forms as heavily-striated elongated rods or prismatic crystals. Blue Elbaite crystals can be pleochroic, which means that the crystal appears darker in colour when viewed along its vertical axis, compared to viewing along its horizontal axis. This specimen was obtained for Rocks and Things in the gemfields of Afghanistan by our partner, Lawrence Handicrafts.
Location: Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, Pakistan, USA
