Indicolite (Blue Tourmaline)

Big Photo

Brazil
6.89 carats
© Palagems

Indicolite (named after its colour) is a blue in all shades variety of tourmaline.

Indicolite Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 

Indicolite Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Indicolite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:1.3 cts
Heaviest:15.49 cts
Average:8.39 cts
Total photos:13
Do you have a larger Indicolite? Why not upload a photo?
1.30ct to 2.72ct2.72ct to 4.14ct4.14ct to 5.56ct5.56ct to 6.98ct6.98ct to 8.40ct8.40ct to 9.81ct9.81ct to 11.23ct11.23ct to 12.65ct12.65ct to 14.07ct14.07ct to 15.49ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Tourmaline
Chemical Formula
Na(Li
 
1.5
Al
 
1.5
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
Gemdat.org, Management Team (2012) Formula given for elbaite. Most, but not all, indicolite is elbaite.More from other references
Indicolite Treatments
Routinely heat-treated to lighten the color - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 5
Physical Properties of Indicolite
Mohs Hardness7 to 7.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Specific Gravity3.05 to 3.11
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
TenacityBrittle
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Cleavage QualityPoor
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Optical Properties of Indicolite
Refractive Index1.614 to 1.666
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Optical CharacterUniaxial/-
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Birefringence0.014 to 0.040
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
PleochroismStrong: dark blue - light blue
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Dispersion0.017
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Colour
Colour (General)(Dark)-blue
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Causes of ColourBlue, Fe2+ in octahedral coordination with possible influense of some iron related transfer processes
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent,Opaque
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
LustreVitreous
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Weak or none
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Crystallography of Indicolite
Crystal SystemTrigonal
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
HabitPrismatic to acicular crystals
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Further Information
Mineral information:Indicolite information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Afghanistan
 
Bowersox and Chamberlin (1995)
    • Dara-e-Pech District
Bowersox and Chamberlin (1995)
  • Nuristan
    • Kamdesh District
Glas (2002)
Glas (2002)
Brazil
 
  • Minas Gerais
    • Coronel Murta
Cassedanne and Roditi (1996)
    • Itambacuri
Cassedanne and Roditi (1996)
    • Itinga
      • Monte Belo
Cassedanne and Roditi (1996)
    • São José da Safira
Menezes (2009)
Mozambique
 
  • Zambezia Province
    • Gilé District
      • Muiane-Naipa group
Henn and Bank (1997)
Henn and Bank (1997)
Schafer and Arlt (2000)
Namibia
 
  • Erongo Region
    • Karibib Constituency
Schneider and Seeger (1992)
      • Otjua Farm 37
Mossman (2002)
Schneider and Seeger (1992)
Pakistan
 
  • Gilgit-Baltistan
    • Roundu District
      • Haramosh Mts.
Laurs et al. (1998)
Sri Lanka
 
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
      • Ratnapura
USA
 
  • California
    • San Diego County
      • Mesa Grande Mining District
        • Gem Hill
Fisher et al. (1999)
      • Pala Mining District
        • Pala
          • Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn)
Fisher et al. (1999)
Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A.
      • Warner Springs Mining District
        • Warner Springs
Laurs (2001, 2002, 2004)
  • Maine
    • Oxford County
      • Newry
Freeman (2005)
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