Liddicoatite
Madagascar
1.25 carats
© Mineral Classics
Liddicoatite forms green, red, pink, purple, and and blue, sometimes white, colorless, black, brown, yellow, and orange elongated prismatic crystals. Crystals are frequently multicolored, containing two or more distinct colours. It may also have internal colour zoning and banding.
Large crystals of Liddicoatite are often cut and polished into slices, with the multicolored designs and forms. Faceted material is rare because of its limited occurrences, and because most gem material is not tested to determine what type of tourmaline mineral it is - so will be labelled as Tourmaline regardless of whether it is Liddicoatite, Elbiate or another type of Tourmaline.
Liddicoatite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Liddicoatite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Liddicoatite 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:0.96 cts
Heaviest:1.70 cts
Average:1.30 cts
Total photos:3
Do you have a larger Liddicoatite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A variety or type of: | Tourmaline | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Liddicoatite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 7.5, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.02, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenacity | Brittle, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Poor, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Uneven,Conchoidal, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Liddicoatite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Strong: dark brown - light brown, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Brown, green, pink, red, blue; commonly zoned parallel to pyramid faces., Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Green, Fe2+ and Ti4+ in octahedral coordination, influence of various charge transfer processes involving iron is a distinct possibility. Yellow-green, Mn2+-O-Ti4+ charge transfer. Greenish yellow, Mn2+ in octahedral coordination (rare). Orange, yellow + pink. Pink to red, related to manganese, generally believed to be due to Mn3+ in octahedral coordination, sometimes caused by irradiation. Brown, Fe2+→Ti4+ charge transfer, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) Vitreous on fractures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Liddicoatite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Hexagonal, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Crystals stout prismatic, with curved convex trigonal outline, deeply striated, to 25 cm., Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Detrital in soil, an apparent product of the local pegmatites., Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Liddicoatite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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