Dravite

specimen number:
2133249

location:
South Deposit, Yinnietharra, Western Australia, Australia

description:
Classic Australian specimen with a crystal grouping of lustrous dravite crystals in a cluster with little matrix. In good condition.

Yinnietharra, located in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, is one of the world's most famous localities for dravite, a magnesium-rich member of the tourmaline group. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within the Paleoproterozoic Gascoyne Complex, specifically occurring in micaceous schists and pegmatites where high-grade metamorphism facilitated the growth of exceptionally large crystals. The dravite found here is renowned for its well-formed, doubly terminated hexagonal prisms, which often exhibit a dark brown to nearly black color and can reach sizes of several centimeters in diameter. Historically, the site was first recognized for its mineralogical significance in the early 20th century, with active mining and specialized specimen recovery peaking during the 1960s and 1970s. While the broader Yinnietharra area has seen various exploration efforts for beryl, mica, and tantalum, the dravite "diggings" remain a classic destination for mineralogists and collectors. Today, the locality is celebrated for producing some of the finest examples of dravite ever recorded, providing essential data for understanding the metamorphic evolution of the Western Australian crust.

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