Tourmalinite
A rock subtype
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About Tourmalinite
Colour:
Black, dark blue, dark green, dark brown
A rock that consists mostly of (often very fine-grained, dark) tourmaline (usually schorl), usually by hydrothermal replacement of feldspars, micas and other minerals.
Tourmalinites are by definition stratabound rocks containing ≥ 20 vol.% tourmaline (Slack, 1982; Bates & Jackson, 1987).
The name may have been also used as a synonym of tourmaline.
Tourmalinites are by definition stratabound rocks containing ≥ 20 vol.% tourmaline (Slack, 1982; Bates & Jackson, 1987).
The name may have been also used as a synonym of tourmaline.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
6447
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6447:3
Classification of Tourmalinite
- Rock
- Metamorphic rock
- Metasomatic-rock
- Tourmalinite
- Metasomatic-rock
- Metamorphic rock
Sub-divisions of Tourmalinite
- Tourmalinite
Mineralogy of Tourmalinite
Essential minerals - these are minerals that are required within the classification of this rock:
| Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
Physical Properties of Tourmalinite
Colour:
Black, dark blue, dark green, dark brown
Other Language Names for Tourmalinite
German:Turmalinit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 28 photos of Tourmalinite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 21 photos of Tourmalinite associated with Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 21 photos of Tourmalinite associated with Wolframite Group | |
| 4 photos of Tourmalinite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Tourmalinite associated with Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| 4 photos of Tourmalinite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 3 photos of Tourmalinite associated with Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
Internet Links for Tourmalinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-6447.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
References for Tourmalinite
Reference List:
Jones, Brian G., Carr, Paul F., Condliffe, Eric (1981) Ferrian tourmaline from Bungonia, New South Wales. Journal of the Geological Society of Australia, 28 (1) 13-17 doi:10.1080/00167618108729140(fine-grained tourmaline forms up to 90% of the rock)
Slack, John F., Herriman, Neil, Barnes, Robert G., Plimer, Ian R. (1984) Stratiform tourmalinites in metamorphic terranes and their geologic significance. Geology, 12 (12). 713-716 doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1984)12<713:stimta>2.0.co;2
Plimer, I.R. (1987) The association of tourmalinite with stratiform scheelite deposits. Mineralium Deposita, 22 (4). 282-291 doi:10.1007/bf00204521
Palmer, Martin R., Slack, John F. (1989) Boron isotopic composition of tourmaline from massive sulfide deposits and tourmalinites. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 103 (4) 434-451 doi:10.1007/bf01041751
Slack, John F., Palmer, Martin R., Stevens, Brian P. J., Barnes, Robert G. (1993) Origin and significance of tourmaline-rich rocks in the Broken Hill District, Australia. Economic Geology, 88 (3) 505-541 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.88.3.505
Zhang, J. S., Passchier, C. W., Slack, J. F., Fliervoet, T. F., de Boorder, H. (1994) Cryptocrystalline Permian tourmalinites of possible metasomatic origin in the Orobic Alps, northern Italy. Economic Geology, 89 (2) 391-396 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.89.2.391
Steven, N. M., Moore, J. M. (1995) Tourmalinite mineralization in the late Proterozoic Kuiseb Formation of the Damara Orogen, central Namibia: Evidence for a replacement origin. Economic Geology, 90 (5). 1098-1117 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.90.5.1098
Torres-Ruiz, J.; Pesquera, A.; Gil-Crespo, P.P.; Velilla, N. (2003) Origin and petrogenetic implications of tourmaline-rich rocks in the Sierra Nevada (Betic Cordillera, southeastern Spain). Chemical Geology, 197 (1-4). p.55-86. doi:10.1016/s0009-2541(02)00357-1
Tourn, S.M.; Herrmann, C.J.; Ametrano, S.; de Brodtkorb, M.K. (2004) Tourmalinites from the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina. Ore Geology Reviews, 24 (3). doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2003.05.002
Trumbull, R. B., Krienitz, M.-S., Gottesmann, B., Wiedenbeck, M. (2007) Chemical and boron-isotope variations in tourmalines from an S-type granite and its source rocks: the Erongo granite and tourmalinites in the Damara Belt, Namibia. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 155 (1) 1-18 doi:10.1007/s00410-007-0227-3
Göd, Richard; Heiss, Gerhard; Koller, Friedrich (2010) Geochemistry of Metapelite Hosted Tourmalinites, Eastern Alps, Austria. Jahrbuch der Geologischen Bundesanstalt, 150. p.325-341.
Nabelek, Peter I. (2021) Formation of metasomatic tourmalinites in reduced schists during the Black Hills Orogeny, South Dakota. American Mineralogist, 106 (2). 282-289 doi:10.2138/am-2020-7405
Localities for Tourmalinite
Showing 21 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Göd (2005) |
Brazil | |
| Horta de Cerqueira Viana et al. (2018) |
| Massuda et al. (2020) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Montgomery (n.d.) |
| Blein et al. (2025) |
Chile | |
| Miranda-Díaz et al. (2022) |
China | |
| Li et al. (2023) |
| Li et al. (2024) |
Czech Republic | |
| Čopjaková et al. (2007) |
DR Congo | |
| Wulff et al. (2025) |
India | |
| Pal et al. (2015) |
Italy | |
| Zanchetta et al. (2022) |
Russia | |
| Alekseev (2025) |
| Alekseev (2025) |
| Alekseev (2023, February) |
| Alekseev et al. (2020) |
| Baksheev et al. (2025) |
| Lyubimtseva et al. (2021) |
Rwanda | |
| De Clercq (2012) |
Spain | |
| Errandonea-Martin et al. (2022) |
South Condurrow Mine, Grenville United Mines, Troon, Camborne, Cornwall, England, UK