Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Cyclosilicates
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : Ca(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(O,OH,F)₄
    Rarity : Very rare

Liddicoatite is a very rare variety of tourmaline close to elbaite : the sodium of the latter being replaced by calcium. It is a tourmaline from sodolithic pegmatites, especially encountered in eluvium resulting from their dismantling. It was named in honor of the American gemologist Richard Thomas Liddicoat of the GIA. Like the majority of minerals in the tourmaline group, it is almost always well crystallized, in stocky prisms strongly striated according to elongation, with a triangular section with curved edges, and pyramidal endings. Its colors are very variable, it is famous for its triangular growth streaks variously colored in green, pink, yellow or brown. It is impossible to distinguish it from elbaite without laboratory analysis. Liddicoatite has a very limited use in jewelry and ornamentation given its rarity ; it is commonly cut into polished slices to highlight its zoning.

Main photo : 9.3 cm liddicoatite crystal from Sahatany Valley, Ibity, Madagascar

No twin known for this mineral species.

No fakes recorded for this mineral species but very hard to differentiate from other tourmaline species.