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Chemical Formula: (Na,Ca)(Mg,Li,Al,Fe2+)3Al6B3Si6(OH)4
Mineral Name: Tourmaline
Color: Red
Hardness: 7
Specific Gravity Rubellite is a variety of tourmaline
varying in color from a pale rose to a deep ruby, and
containing lithium. Rubellite is the reddish pink to
purple color variety of Tourmaline, the most
varicolored of all gemstones. With its deep ruby red
color, Rubellite is very rare and the most valuable
form of Tourmaline. It consists of inclusions. The
chemical impurities cause a growing crystal to become
internally cracked- more the impurities, darker the
shade of red.
Rubellite displays pleochroism i.e. the color changes
when viewed at different angles but this varies from
specimen to specimen. It is supposed to be an
especially powerful influence on love and friendship,
lending to permanence and stability. It is faceted
into gems for jewelry as well as carved into
ornamental figures and carvings.
