Liddicoatite-Elbaite

specimen number:
1711117

location:
Ankitsikitsika, Camp Robin, Ambohimahasoa, Haute Matsiatra, Madagascar

description:

A loose large thick translucent sharply formed crystal little attached feldspar. Complete all around, this is in very good condition. This crystal is chemically zoned and contains both liddicoatite and elbaite.

Elbaite and liddicoatite are closely related members of the tourmaline group, a complex series of boron rich cyclosilicate minerals characterized by extensive chemical substitution. Elbaite is a lithium rich end member that commonly displays a wide range of colors, while liddicoatite is a calcium dominant species that shows even greater chemical variability, often producing striking sector or triangular color zoning. Both minerals crystallize in granitic pegmatites during late stage formation, where boron rich fluids allow for the incorporation of elements such as lithium, calcium, aluminum, and trace elements into the crystal structure. The relationship between elbaite and liddicoatite reflects a compositional series within the tourmaline group, where variations in major cations lead to differences in chemistry, crystal habit, and color, illustrating the complexity of pegmatite mineral formation.

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