Alkali Tourmaline Species, Fluorine Dominant Dravite

                                                                        (Name Yet to be Assigned by IMA)

                                                                         NaMg3Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3F

Wonderful specimen of the new species of tourmaline from the Cream of the Valley Road, Gouverneur, New York. It is a fluorine dominant dravite which is awaiting IMS approval for its name.                                        A larger specimen of the new species of tourmaline from the Cream of the Valley Road, Gouverneur, New York. It is a fluorine dominant dravite which is awaiting IMS approval for its name.

       Crystals to 1.5 cm on breciated matrix.                                                                            3 cm crystal on matrix.

During the 2004 summer collecting season I was informed of a small deposit of tourmaline crystals that was being dug at a road-cut pegmatite on the Cream of the Valley Road west of Gouverneur, New York.  A limited number of people were aware of the location so few had dug there.  I worked the site which appeared to be a single, highly breciated pocket containing tourmalines, feldspar and minor quartz for several days.  During that time crystals were removed which were black in color, yet brown under intense light and highly striated.  Most of the crystals were damaged or completely destroyed but some well formed crystals to several inches in length were removed. 

Most of the specimens recovered from the find were subsequently sold to Dr. Steven Chamberlain of Syracuse University, a highly regarded New York State mineral expert.  In preparation for an upcoming article to be co-authored by me and Steve (one in a series of articles being published by Rocks and Minerals Magazine on road-cut occurrences in St. Lawrence County, New York) specimens were given to the New York State Museum for analysis.  After extensive study it appears that the tourmaline is a new species theorized to potentially exist by Hawthorn and Henry back in 1999.  The new species is a fluorine dominant dravite and is currently seeking IMA approval of an appropriate name.  These tourmalines will likely represent the type locality for the new species which until now was unknown to science. 

I am "gun shy" about selling specimens prior to IMA approval of this tourmaline being a new species but have final decided to do so after four years of waiting.  They will be labeled fluorine dominant dravites and available beginning in April 2008 at the Rochester Mineralogical Symposium.  A few of the better specimens are now posted and available on the Fluorine Dominant Dravite Page.

 

                                                                                                       

 

January 2007...we are still waiting on IMA approval of this new species.

March 2008...we are still waiting on IMA approval of this new species.

 

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