What Is Rubellite?

Rubellite is a common, bright pink to red tourmaline that is used in jewelry. The name rubellite originates from the Latin word "rubellus," which translates as "reddish."

Classification

Rubellite is a variety of elbaite, one of the species of tourmaline.

Chemical Composition

Rubellite is a sodium-lithium silicate that contains boron, aluminum and small amounts of iron and magnesium.

Features

A true rubellite is as red in artificial light as it is in daylight. Any other type of pink tourmaline displays shades of brown in artificial light.

Rubellites sometimes have orange or purple shades and tints, which can change depending on the light quality.

Misconceptions

Inclusions in rubellites are desirable, to a certain degree. Inclusions should be small and should not occlude the passage of light through the gem by making it look opaque rather than transparent.

Sources

Rubellite is located in South America (Brazil), Russia (Ural Mountains), Asia (Burma and Sri Lanka), Africa (Mozambique and Nigeria), the Middle East (Pakistan and Afghanistan), the United States and the Republic of Madagascar.

References

• International Colored Gem Association: Rubellite

Resources

• Mindat.org: Rubellite