Description
Uvite is a rare form of tourmaline; its crystal formation differs from that of most other tourmalines. Uvite occurs in various colors, including orange/red and green. The mineral uvite ((Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe+2)3Al5Mg(BO3)3Si6O18(OH,F)4) is a yellow-brown, brown to black silicate and belongs to the tourmaline group. The mineral's properties are similar to those of tourmaline. Uvite contains magnesium and is translucent to opaque. It closely resembles the mineral dravite, which also belongs to the tourmaline group. The mineral is named after the Sri Lankan province of Uva. Uvite is found in the former Soviet Union (Transbaikalia, Yakutia), Sri Lanka, the United States (New York), and Canada (Ontario). The mineral is very rarely cut as a gemstone.
