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Dravite
Specimen | Catalog Number | Locality | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Dravite | NMNH G10697 | Sri Lanka | 26.60 ct |
Dravite is a member of the tourmaline family. It is typically brown to brownish-black and sometimes dark yellow to dark orange-brown. It is commonly known as “brown tourmaline.” It was named after the area where it was first discovered near the Dravo River in Dravograd, Slovenia. Dravite can have a vitreous or resinous luster and is usually translucent to opaque, rarely transparent. It is mainly a collector’s gem and not often found in jewelry, as large transparent well-formed crystals are rare. Dravite can be found in many localities including Australia, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Tanzania and the U.S. This oval faceted dravite from Sri Lanka is a medium-dark transparent yellowish-brown gem with apatite inclusions.