RocksdayDravite vs Elbaite
To tell Dravite from Elbaite: Elbaite is the brightly colored lithium species.
Magnesium tourmaline, usually brown. It often grows in marble rather than in granite pegmatites.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
The lithium tourmaline behind most green, pink and multicolored gem tourmaline, including watermelon crystals.
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Key differences
- Elbaite is the brightly colored lithium species.
Side by side
| Property | Dravite | Elbaite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 7–7.5 | 7–7.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Brown, Black, Yellow, Green | Green, Pink, Red, Blue, Yellow |
| Crystal system | Trigonal | Trigonal |
| Specific gravity | 3–3.2 | 3–3.1 |
| Formula | NaMg₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄ | Na(Li₁.₅Al₁.₅)Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄ |
| Found in | Drava region, Slovenia; Yinnietharra, Western Australia | Minas Gerais, Brazil; San Diego County, California |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify dravite
- Brown prisms with a triangular cross-section and lengthwise grooves.
- Hardness 7–7.5.
- Commonly in pale metamorphic rocks.
Crystal system: Trigonal
Full Dravite guide →How to identify elbaite
- Long prisms, often green, pink or both, with lengthwise striations.
- Rounded-triangle cross-section.
- Hardness 7–7.5.
Crystal system: Trigonal
Full Elbaite guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between dravite and elbaite?
Dravite is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5 and a vitreous luster, usually brown, black, yellow or green. Elbaite is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5 and a vitreous luster, usually green, pink, red, blue or yellow.
How can you tell dravite from elbaite?
Elbaite is the brightly colored lithium species.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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