Oxy-dravite is a rare member of the tourmaline group, characterized by its specific oxygen-rich crystal structure. It typically appears as elongated, striated prismatic crystals and is often indistinguishable from common dravite without advanced chemical analysis like electron microprobe testing.
Is this oxy-dravite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch oxy-dravite with a known reference. Oxy-dravite sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Oxy-dravite leaves a pink streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Oxy-dravite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, reddish-brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic, striated, columnar.
Often confused with
Oxy-dravite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside oxy-dravite
Minerals reported to co-occur with oxy-dravite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Al₂Mg)(Al₅Mg)(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃O
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 3.0-3.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pink
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, Striated, Columnar
- Cleavage
- [Poor/indistinct On {0001}.]
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Pegmatites, Metamorphic Schists
Where rockhounds find oxy-dravite
Classic worldwide localities
- Osarara, Narok district, Kenya
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites, metamorphic schists country, the host setting where oxy-dravite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic, striated, columnar habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify oxy-dravite?+
Where is oxy-dravite found?+
What rocks look like oxy-dravite?+
What minerals are found with oxy-dravite?+
What kind of rock does oxy-dravite form in?+
What is oxy-dravite used for?+
Find oxy-dravite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
