Indicolite
Indicolite is a variety that is blue of, that is usually, not always, the Elbaite variety of Tourmaline. An Indicolite that’s true color a light to dark, saturated blue. Of program, a true Indicolite will be a blue that is pure but the name has come to be used for virtually any shade of blue ranging from greyish blue to violet-blue.
Indicolite was named in 1800 by Brazilian mineralogist José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (1763-1838). The title Indicolite is through the indicolite that is original that will be from the early 18th-century French word indigo, meaning deep blue color, and also the Greek word λίθος, (lithos) meaning stone. The word that is French referred to a blue dye obtained from the plant of the genus Indigofera. Indigofera is just a genius that is largely of 750 species of flowering flowers belonging to the family Fabaceae, commonly known as the legume, pea or bean household,
Indicolite is discovered in Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States (California and Maine). Indicolite distribution: in Afghanistan at Paprok, Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province. At several localities in Minas Gerais, Brazil: during the Cruzeiro mine, São José da Safira and Santa Rosa mines, Doce valley and at Barra de Salinas district, Barra do Salinas, Coronel Murta, Jequitinhonha Valley. In Madagascar at the Anjahamiary pegmatite, Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province. In Namibia at the Otjua Mine, Otjua Farm 37, and at Karibib District, Erongo area. In Pakistan at Stak Nala, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan. In the united states at a few mines in the Warner Springs District, Hillcrest County, Ca; and mines which are several the Mesa Grande District, Aguanga Mountain District and the Pala Districts of San Diego County, California; in Maine at Crooker Gem Pegmatite Quarries, Newry, Oxford County and during the Oak Hill path Cuts, Standish, Cumberland County; in New Hampshire at the Chickering Mine, Walpole, Cheshire County.
| Chemical Formula: | Na(Li 1.5 Al 1.5 )Al 6 (Si 6 O 18 )(BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 (OH) |
| Crystal System: | Trigonal |
| Color: | Blue |
| Lustre: | Vitreous |
| Mohs Hardness: | 7 to 7.5 |
| Specific Gravity: | 3.05 to 3.11 |
| Transparency: | Transparent,Translucent,Opaque |
| Refractive Index: | 1.614 to 1.666 |
| Optical Properties: | Uniaxial(-) |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Dispersion: | 0.017 |
| Fluorescence: | Weak or none |
| Pleochroism: | Strong: dark blue – light blue |
| Birefringence: | 0.014 to 0.040 |
