Elbaíta Green Cap
Elbaíta is a mineral with formula Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄, in the Silicatos group. This specimen comes from Stak Nala, Skardu District, Baltistán, Gilgit-Baltistán, Pakistán and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Prismatic elbaite with a translucent green cap; a small white albite wing provides the defining accent. Clean, lustrous, and typical of Stak Nala.
About Elbaíta
Elbaite is the lithium-rich member of the tourmaline group; at Stak Nala, bicoloured terminations are common, where late-stage chemical changes generate "green caps" on darker bodies.
About the locality
Stak Nala is a classic pegmatite in northern Pakistan, noted for tourmalines with very pronounced striations, complex zoning, and associations with albite and white micas.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0259
- Composition
- Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄
- Name
- Elbaíta
- Variety
- Green Cap
- Group
- Silicatos
- Category
- Estélites
- Associations
- Albita
- Mine
- Stak Nala
- District / Municipality
- Skardu District
- Province
- Baltistán
- Region
- Gilgit-Baltistán
- Country
- Pakistán
- Size (cm)
- 3.4 x 1.3 x 0.8
- Weight
- 5.2 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Etymology
- From the toponym Elba, the Italian island where the species was defined.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
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