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Dumortierite often forms in an attractive blue color and can be used as an ornamental stone. Though it is most commonly perceived as blue, especially in lapidary use, other colors include purple, pink, gray and brown. Dumortierite specimens are composed of dense fibers, giving them a tough durability.
Dumortierite often forms as inclusions in Quartz, and this combination results in a natural blue Quartz gemstone. These are known in the gemstone market as " Dumortierite Quartz" and they are becoming increasingly popular as a minor blue gemstone. Dumortierite is named after French paleontologist Eugene Dumortier (1803-1873).
For additional information, see the gemstone section on Dumortierite. |
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Chemical Formula |
AlAl6O3BSi3O18 |
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Composition |
Aluminum borosilicate |
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Color |
Light to dark blue, grayish blue, purple, pink, and brown |
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Streak |
White |
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Hardness |
7 |
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Crystal System |
Orthorhombic |
Crystal Forms
and Aggregates |
Never in individual crystals. Most often as radiating sprays, as fibrous masses, columnar, compact, massive, and as grainy splotches on matrix. |
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Transparency |
Translucent to opaque |
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Specific Gravity |
3.3 - 3.4 |
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Luster |
Vitreous, silky, or dull |
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Cleavage |
2,1;3,1 |
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Fracture |
Uneven, splintery |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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Other ID Marks |
Sometimes fluorescent purple is shortwave ultraviolet light. |
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In Group |
Silicates; Nesosilicates |
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Striking Features |
Color, crystal habits, and hardness |
| Environment |
In high temperature, aluminum-rich regional metamorphic rocks, in boron-rich granite pegmatites, and in hydrothermal replacement deposits. |
| Rock Type |
Igneous, Metamorphic |
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Popularity (1-4)
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3 |
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Prevalence (1-3)
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3 |
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Demand (1-3) |
3 |
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- Form of Dumortierite with magnesium replacing some of the aluminum, with a chemical formula of MgAl6O3BSi3O18. Magnesiodumorierite is recognized by the IMA as a distinct mineral species.
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Dumortierite may be used as a minor gemstone. Dumortierite-included Quartz, often known as "Dumortierite Quartz", is an increasingly popular minor blue gemstone. Dumortierite is also mined for spark plug ceramics as an electric insulator.
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Dumortierite is not a common mineral, and only a handful of localities have produced quality specimens. The type locality where this mineral was first discovered is the Ducarre's Quarry, Beaunant, Rhône, France. Small embedded fibrous groups of Dumortierite have been found in the Waldviertel area, Lower Austria, Austria; and violet-blue acicular crystals from Chiavenna, Val Schiesone, Lombardy, Italy. A deep blue form in relatively large crystals comes from Sahavina and Ambositra, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar. Fine radiating Dumortierite needles have come from Cucucha, Canta Province, Peru; and a deep blue Dumortierite included in Quartz from Macaúbas, Bahia, Brazil (where it is known locally as "Bahia Blue Quartz".)
In the U.S., blue and lavender Dumortierite in dense fibrous form comes from the Dehesa Dumortierite Deposit, near Alpine, San Diego Co., California. Other California localities include the Temescal Wash, Corona, Riverside Co.; and Ogilby, Cargo Muchacho Mountains, Imperial Co., California. Dumortierite was also found in Oreana, Pershing Co., Nevada; and in the Clip Mine, Yuma Co., Arizona. |
Lazurite, Lazulite, and Sodalite - Lack fibrous crystal structure, usually have a more intense blue color, and lower hardness.Sillimanite - Rarely in the blue or violet color of Dumortierite.
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Have a question about Dumortierite? Visit our Q&A Community and ask the experts!
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