UVITE
Specimen uvi-1

Dims: 1.5" x 1.0" x 0.8" (3.8 x 2.5 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 10.0 g

Brumado Mine, Bahia, Brazil

A cluster of heavily intergrown Uvite platelets makes up this Brazilian specimen. The Uvites have a hexagonal tabular form that are terminated on each side by extremely shallow, trigonal domes. All seem to be in excellent condition, as I can detect only a small amount of damage, and even with their intergrowth, they still have excellent, regular form. Their edges and faces are clean, and show off their vitreous luster. All have a dark olive-greem color that is a bit deeper than that of most peridots. The largest crystal in the cluster is heavily intergrown and only partially exposed; it measures almost exactly 0.5" (1.3 cm) in diameter. There is no host rock- the specimen is composed entirely out of Uvite. I have affixed it inside a domed thimble box for display purposes.

Dims: 2.5" x 1.4" x 0.8" (6.4 x 3.6 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 1.14 oz. (32.4 g)

Brumado Mine, Bahia, Brazil

This specimen consists of a crust made up of scores of heavily-intergrown Uvite crystals. The largest of these crystals has visible dimensions of 0.5 x 0.2" (1.3 x 0.5 cm), and though it is incomplete and has a warped form, it is undamaged. The entire cluster is likewise free from damage, with the exception of some of the crystals on the crust's edge. All have the hexagonal, almost tabular form that is common for crystals from this locality, but these are thicker than most that I have seen. They are double-terminated with the obligatory shallow trigonal domes, and their form is excellent, though their intergrowth has caused some slight warping in some spots. They have a deep olive-green coloration and a bright, vitreous luster, and are transparent and moderately clear, showing many internal fractures. Besides the Uvite, there is only a single, clear, incomplete quartz crystal visible on the crust's underside. Some of the Uvites are so thick that they could, in effect, be considered prismatic.

Dims: 2.1" x 1.4" x 1.0" (5.3 x 3.6 x 2.5 cm)

Wt: 1.55 oz. (44.1 g)

Lavro de Pedra Preta, Brumado Mine, Bahia, Brazil

This is the first Uvite specimen that I have seen that does not have the hexagonal tabular "nailhead" form! This particular piece consists of at least 15 intergrown hexagonal prismatic Uvites. Although their forms are somewhat warped due to intergrowth, they all have well-defined edges and faces that show a pearly-to-vireous luster. Their color is a deep gray-green and some of the smaller, thinner crystals show translucence, and even partial transparence. The only other material present on the specimen is calcite, in clusters that include scores of tiny, transparent rhombohedral crystals. They do not exceed 2 mm in any dimension.

Dims: 1.5" x 1.3" x 0.8" (3.8 x 3.36 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 20.7 g

Brumado Mine, Bahia, Brazil

Another specimen from the prolific Brumado Mine, this piece is almost entirely made up of intergrown hexagonal tabular Uvite crystals. There is considerable damage on the piece in the form of broken and incomplete crystals, but many are intact and in excellent condition. The largest of these crystals has dimensions of 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.2" (1.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 cm) and all have good form, with clean edges and faces that show a bright, vitreous luster. Their color is a deep forest green that is almost olive in coloration, and all are translucent, showing dim transparence near their edges. Other than the Uvites, there are a few tiny, colorless calcite rhombohedrons in some of the piece's crevices.

Dims: 1.0" x 0.9" x 0.8" (2.5 x 2.3 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 6.5 g

Brumado Mine, Bahia, Brazil

A cluster of hexagonal tabular Uvite crystals makes up the bulk of this thumbnail specimen. They range in diameter from a few millimeters to about 0.4" (1.0 cm) and are in excellent condition, showing only a small amount of damage. Though the largest crystal is rather warped due to intergrowth, all others show good form; they have well-defined edges and smooth faces that reflect light with a bright, vitreous luster. Their color is a deep olive-green and most show noticeable transparence and clarity, though all seem to be slightly included. Attached to the cluster of intergrown Uvites are two rhombohedral calcite crystals (see the close-up image). They also show good form and are somewhat transparent, though numerous veil-like inclusions make them appear a milky-white color.

Dims: 1.8 x 1.3 x 0.8" (4.5 x 3.3 x 2.1 cm)

Wt: 0.7 oz. (20 g)

Brumado Mine, Bahia, Brazil

Five large Uvites and several very small ones are intergrown to form this hand specimen. These crystals are in excellent condition, showing very little damage, and reach dimensions of 1.4 x 0.6 x 0.5" (3.5 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm). All have excellent trigonal form, in the prismatic, almost columnar habit that is common with all tourmalines. Their color is a deep, dull green and their luster is the standard vitreous, and all are only dimly translucent. There is no base or host material present.

Dims: 1.1 x 1.1 x 0.9" (2.7 x 2.7 x 2.3 cm)

Wt: 0.38 oz. (11.0 g)

Brumado Mine, Bahia, Brazil

This specimen consists of a single large uvite crystal and dozens of small ones intergrown with many tiny clear calcite crystals. These crystals are in excellent condition, showing very little damage. The large crystal (over 1 cm wide) has good trigonal form, in the prismatic, almost columnar habit that is common with all tourmalines. Their color is a deep, dull green and their luster is the standard vitreous, and all are only dimly translucent.