Paraíba Tourmaline
Real mineral · legendary · Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄
Elbaite tourmaline coloured by copper and manganese, producing an unparalleled neon blue that appears to glow from within under any light source. First discovered in 1987 in Paraíba, Brazil after years of excavation by a single miner. The original Brazilian deposit is now essentially exhausted. Consistently fetches higher prices per carat than diamonds of equivalent size.
Identity
- Formula
- Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄
- Chemical class
- silicate
- Mineral group
- Tourmaline
- Also known as
- Copper-bearing elbaite, Neon tourmaline
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Habits
- prismatic, columnar
- Fracture
- conchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5
- Density
- 3.06 g/cm³
- Luster
- vitreous
- Colors
- neon blue, electric blue, blue-green, green, violet
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- transparent
Geology
- Origins
- igneous
- Host rocks
- pegmatite
- Associated minerals
- Quartz, feldspar, Mica
- Geography
- Brazil (Paraíba state), Nigeria, Mozambique
Classification
- Rarity
- legendary
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- water, storm
- Effects
- elemental lightning, elemental ice, scrying
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
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