Information about Fluorliddicoatite

Fluorliddicoatite is a calcium-rich, lithium-bearing variety of tourmaline distinguished by its fluorine content.

Its crystals are often vividly colored and exhibit strong zonation, with shades ranging from pink, red, green, blue, and yellow to brown. The colors may appear in concentric or sectoral zoning, making it highly attractive to collectors and gemmologists.

Fluorliddicoatite crystals are prismatic, often striated along their length, and have a vitreous luster. The transparency ranges from transparent to translucent.

Uses and History

Fluorliddicoatite is prized in the gemstone industry for its vibrant, multicolored crystals, which are cut and polished into gemstones. It is also a popular choice among mineral collectors due to its aesthetic appeal and unique zoning patterns.

Fluorliddicoatite was officially recognized as a distinct mineral species in 2011 after detailed analysis showed it to be compositionally distinct from liddicoatite.

Madagascar is the most notable locality for fluorliddicoatite, but it has also been found in other pegmatite deposits around the world.

Liddicoatite is currently not a recognised mineral species, as most if not all specimens labelled liddicoatite have been analysed to actually be fluorliddicoatite.

Mineralogy

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

Translations

Further Reading / External Links

• https://www.mindat.org/min-41296.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluor-liddicoatite