Rubellite

Big Photo

Rubellite Tourmaline Dreamscape Cut
13.30 carats
© johndyergems.com

Rubellite (Latin - reddish) is pink to red, sometimes with a violet tint variety of Tourmaline.

Ruby colour is the most valuable.
41 photos

Rubellite Gemstones by Colour

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

Rubellite Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Rubellite 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:0.21 cts
Heaviest:64.18 cts
Average:7.43 cts
Total photos:40
Do you have a larger Rubellite? Why not upload a photo?
0.21ct to 6.61ct6.61ct to 13.00ct13.00ct to 19.40ct19.40ct to 25.80ct25.80ct to 32.20ct32.20ct to 38.59ct38.59ct to 44.99ct44.99ct to 51.39ct51.39ct to 57.78ct57.78ct to 64.18ct
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, rubellite is elbaite.
Rubellite Treatments
Irradiation gives purple red colour. Gemologists can not detect the treatment. Both natural and treated colour can fade. - GIA, 2018

Color may be improved by irradiation. "Hot" pink to pinkish-red (often) result from irradiation of colorless, light green and pink varieties (not detectable) - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 5
Physical Properties of Rubellite
Mohs Hardness7 to 7.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Specific Gravity3.01 to 3.06
Michael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) Red to pink specimens are usually in the range 3.01–3.06.
TenacityBrittle
Michael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Cleavage QualityPoor
Michael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
FractureSub-Conchoidal
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Optical Properties of Rubellite
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 red - pinkish-red
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Dispersion0.017
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Colour
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent,Opaque
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
LustreVitreous
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Inert to pinkish
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Crystallography of Rubellite
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:Rubellite 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)
Brazil
 
  • Minas Gerais
    • Conselheiro Pena
Cassedanne and Roditi (1996)
Steger (1999)
    • Coronel Murta
Cassedanne and Roditi (1996)
    • Itambacuri
Cassedanne and Roditi (1996)
    • Itinga
      • Monte Belo
Bastos (2002)
    • São José da Safira
Cassedanne and Roditi (1996)
Madagascar
 
  • Vakinankaratra
    • Betafo District
      • Anosiarivo Manapa
        • Antsentsindrano
Lacroix, A. (1912): Sur quelques minéraux des pegmatites du Vakinankaratra (Madagascar). Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie, Paris 35 , 76-84
Mozambique
 
  • Zambezia Province
    • Gilé District
      • Muiane-Naipa group
Henn and Bank (1997)
Henn and Bank (1997)
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
        • Pein-Pyit (Painpyit; Pyan Pyit)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
    • Yamethin District
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
  • Shan State
    • Kyaukme District
Kyi et al. (2005)
Namibia
 
  • Erongo Region
    • Karibib Constituency
      • Otjua Farm 37
Mossman (2002)
Russia
 
  • Zabaykalsky Krai
    • Krasnochikoysky District
      • Krasnyi Chikoy
        • Malkhan pegmatite field
Godovikov and Bulgak (1993)
Godovikov and Bulgak (1993)
Godovikov and Bulgak (1993)
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)
      • Warner Springs Mining District
        • Warner Springs
Laurs (2001, 2002, 2004)
  • Maine
    • Oxford County
      • Newry
Freeman (2005)
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