Olenite specimens for sale
1 for sale · $900 USD
Olenite is a tourmaline-group mineral with a complex composition that places it among borosilicate varieties. It typically forms elongated, prismatic crystals with a vitreous to subadamantine luster, and can display a range of colors through subtle zoning. In hand specimens, Olenite often shows a clear, glassy surface that highlights its angular terminations and optical relief, making it attractive for display and study.
- Formula
- Na·Al3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3O3(OH)
- Rarity
- Rare
- Stability
- Stable
- Collector interest
- Moderate Interest
- Classification notes
- Cyclosilicate; tourmaline group
Key characteristics
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Mohs hardness
- 7–7.5
- Specific gravity
- 3.06
- Luster
- vitreous
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Color
- colorless, white, pink, blue, green
- Streak
- white
- Cleavage
- none
- Fracture
- conchoidal, uneven
- Crystal habit
- prismatic, acicular, radiating, massive
- Gem mineral
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Where Olenite is found
Top localities
- Palelni Mine1 specimen
About Olenite
Notable specimens come from Myanmar, where classic pockets yield well-formed crystals that emphasize its distinctive habit and color zoning. Collectors prize Olenite for its association with tourmaline-group minerals and its relative rarity, as well as for the aesthetic appeal of its clean edges and transparency in certain samples. While not as widely represented as more common tourmalines, Olenite offers a compelling window into the diverse chemistry of borosilicate minerals and their crystallographic variations, rewarding careful examination under magnification and thoughtful pairing in a mineral cabinet.