trigonal Synthetic synthetic tourmaline
Lab-Grown Paraíba Tourmaline (Crystal)
Formula Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4:Cu
Crystal Structure
#! Species: Lab-Grown Paraíba Tourmaline (Hydrothermal)
#! System: Trigonal (3m)
#! Habit: Prismatic crystal from hydrothermal growth
trigonal[3m]:{10-10}@1.0 + {01-11}@0.7
trigonal
3m
{10-10} {01-11}
Quick Facts
Hardness
7.0
Specific Gravity
3.05
Refractive Index
1.62
Optical Character
Uniaxial -
Physical Properties
- Crystal System
- trigonal
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 7.0
- Specific Gravity
- 3.05
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Lustre
- Vitreous
Optical Properties
- Refractive Index
- 1.62
- Birefringence
- 0.018
- Optical Character
- Uniaxial -
- Dispersion
- 0.017
- Pleochroism
- moderate: blue-green / light green
- Fluorescence
- Inert to weak blue (LW UV)
Origin & Identification
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Growth Method
- Hydrothermal
- First Produced
- 2010
- Diagnostic Features
- Extremely rare and difficult to produce, very clean compared to natural Paraíba, seed plate may be visible, copper content matches natural but lacks typical natural inclusions (liquid-filled tubes, trichites)
Characteristics
Colours
Neon blueBlue-greenGreen
Common Inclusions
Seed plateGrowth tubesVery clean compared to natural
Natural Counterpart
The natural gem this synthetic imitates
Related Minerals
Other minerals in the trigonal system
