A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Rubellite and verdelite |
|---|---|
| Description | Rubellite is the pink variety of tourmaline, with the chemical formula AX3Y6(BO3)3Si6O18(O,OH,F)4. With Mn in the X spot and Fe in the Y spot adding the pink color. Tourmalines have some unique properties such as they are piezoelectric which means that when a crystal is heated, compressed, or vibrated a different electrical charge will form at opposite ends of the crystal. Conversely if an electrical potential is applied to the crystal, it will vibrate. They are also pleochroic. This sample is approximately 8 cm. |
| Location | USA ▹ South Dakota. Near Black Hills. |
| Photographer | Shannon Heinle. 2001-11-28. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #1293. |
| Key words | rubellite, tourmaline |
| Tech details | 496 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 1852 |
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