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Uvite is an uncommon form of Tourmaline, and it forms different
crystal formations than the most of the other Tourmalines. Though it
lacks the color diversity as some of the other Tourmaline forms, it does
occur in beautiful green and reddish-brown crystals, as well as
lustrous submetallic crystals. The name Uvite is derived from the
type locality of the Uva Province, in Sri Lanka, where it was first
identified.
Uvite can be very similar to Dravite Tourmaline, and they may even occur together. It can sometimes be very
difficult to make an exact distinction between the Dravite and the
Uvite.
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Chemical Formula |
Ca(Mg,Fe2+)3Al5Mg(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 |
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Composition |
Basic calcium magnesium iron aluminum boro-silicate |
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Color |
Light to dark green, light to dark brown, reddish brown, red, purple, brownish-yellow, white, gray, black. May also be multicolored with light and dark brown streakings. |
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Streak |
White |
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Hardness |
7.5 |
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Crystal System |
Hexagonal |
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Crystal Forms
and Aggregates |
Most often in short and stubby crystals with complete terminations. Prismatic crystals are rare. Also occurs in
columnar aggregates, equant crystal masses, radiating, and massive. Crystals are occassionally striated.
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Transparency |
Transparent to opaque |
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Specific Gravity |
3.0 - 3.2 |
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Luster |
Vitreous, submetallic |
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Cleavage |
3,2 |
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Fracture |
Conchoidal to uneven |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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Other ID Marks |
May fluoresce yellow in shortwave ultraviolet light.
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In Group |
Silicates; Cyclosilicates; Tourmaline Group |
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Striking Features |
Colors, crystal forms, and localities. |
| Environment |
In metamorphosed Magnesite deposits, and in metamorphic skarns and marbles.
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Popularity (1-4)
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3 |
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Prevalence (1-3)
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3 |
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Demand (1-3) |
2 |
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Uvite, being an uncommon form of Tourmaline, is mainly a collectors minerals.
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Uvite is not a common mineral. The best locality for Uvite is Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil, where it occurs in lustrous gemmy red and green crystals. The most famous Uvite occurrence in the U.S. is Bower Power's Farm, Pierrepont, St. Lawrence Co., New York, where lustrous black crystals can be found.
Brownish-red Uvite came from the Reese Farm, Gouverneur, St Lawrence Co., New York; and good crystals from the marbles at Franklin and Hamburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey; and at Amity, Orange Co., New York. In Canada, Uvite comes from the Tait farm in Dungannon, in the Bancroft District, Ontario, Canada. A new occurrence producing deep emerald-green Uvite has been reported from Mogok, Burma (Myanmar).
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Dravite - May be very difficult to distinguish.
Schorl - Usually occurs in different environments, and crystal habits differ.
Garnet - Forms in different crystals.
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Have a question about Uvite? Visit our Q&A Community and ask the experts!
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