Elbaite is a classic mineral to collect. Throughout history, colored tourmalines including elbaite have been valued as cut stones and mineral specimens. Elbaite comes from many localities. There are over 100 localities worldwide that produce pocket crystals of elbaite that are well formed and potentially gem quality. Elbaite is found in any color imaginable and crystals of this mineral can be of multiple colors at once. It is one of the few stones that is so colorful and hard enough to not chip when dropped, making it very appropriate for jewelry. Elbaite, though a more expensive stone, is very abundant on the mineral and gem market. Affordable and beautiful specimens complete with terminations can be found selling for under ten dollars each making them an great way to throw a splash of color into your next jewelry piece. Single elbaite crystals and points are perfect gifts for wire wrappers who love to throw a splash of color into their piece by using a vibrant, naturally formed crystal! There is a variety for every taste! Popular varieties are rubellite, verdelite, indicolite, watermelon tourmaline, and Paraiba tourmaline, the latter is extremely rare and can be worth a hefty sum of money. Its distinctive and very bright swimming pool blue to purple color makes it a hit in high end jewelry and gemstone collections.
Elbaite specimens can still be collected in many locations worldwide. Many of the abandoned pegmatite mines, especially in the New England region still produce wonderful elbaite crystals. Many of these sites feature crystals that are embedded in massive quartz and lepidolite making beautiful hand samples but some of these locations still have potential to produce pockets. You are encouraged to visit these sites and dig, but please make sure the land owners are ok with you doing so before you begin your search! Many of these cool sites to find elbaite are rich with other interesting minerals too like beryl, garnets, and rose quartz! There is a lot of fun to be had exploring them! Elbaite is a multi colored stone which all mineral collectors love for different reasons. It is the stone of diverse interests!