Gemstone profile and identification guide
Part of the identity of Indicolite comes from the producing regions associated with it. That combination of green body colour, 7 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary pink note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Part of the identity of Indicolite comes from the producing regions associated with it. That combination of green body colour, 7 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary pink note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Did you know? Indicolite is commonly associated with material from Brazil, though the broader trade may draw on multiple localities.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Indicolite
Scientific classification: Cyclosilicate (Tourmaline Group)
Hardness: 7.25 Mohs
Transparency: transparent
Lustre: vitreous
Crystal system: Trigonal
Primary colour: Green
Secondary colour: Pink
Colour family: Greens
A practical identification pass begins with the visible basics: transparent transparency, vitreous lustre, 7 Mohs hardness, and a hexagonal crystal system. The interaction between green and pink tones is more useful than the primary colour alone when comparing candidates. Useful side-by-side comparisons include Tourmaline, Pink Tourmaline, Green Tourmaline.
Status: verified-family-derived
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields inherited from verified parent profile: tourmaline.
Indicolite profile inherits tourmaline core identity fields.
Variety-level locality and treatment specifics can differ and should be reviewed before publication-grade claims.
Hardness category: medium
Hardness value: 7.25 Mohs
Chemical composition: Complex borosilicate group (variable species chemistry)
Crystal system: Trigonal
Common locations: Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Indicolite sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with pink appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Optical effects: Pleochroism
Mineral species: Tourmaline group
Mineral group: Tourmaline group
Chemical formula: Complex borosilicate group (variable species chemistry)
Mohs hardness: 7.25
Crystal system: Trigonal
Lustre: vitreous
Transparency: transparent
Streak: White
Cleavage: Indistinct
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 3.00-3.20
Refractive index: 1.61-1.65
Optical phenomena: Pleochroism
Colour range: Green, Pink
Common inclusions: Growth tubes, liquid inclusions, and color-zoning features
Geological environment: Indicolite occurs in Boron-rich granitic pegmatites and associated hydrothermal systems. Its Trigonal structure reflects the pressure-temperature conditions of those host rocks, with notable occurrences in Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar.
Principal mining regions: Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar
Important commercial sources: Commercial gem tourmaline is supplied mainly by Brazil and East Africa, with Afghanistan important for some varieties
Historical significance: Tourmaline has become a cornerstone of modern colored-gem trade due to wide color diversity.
Common treatments: Heat treatment is used for some colors; other treatments vary by variety and source lot.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Glass and assembled imitations exist; synthetic true tourmaline is not common in jewelry trade.
Common look-alikes: tourmaline, pink tourmaline, green tourmaline
Jewellery uses: Indicolite is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.25 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Indicolite should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.25 in the Trigonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Store separately from harder gems to minimise abrasion and edge wear.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Indicolite.
Indicolite is a Tourmaline group material with chemistry Complex borosilicate group (variable species chemistry). It develops in Boron-rich granitic pegmatites and associated hydrothermal systems, and economically significant production is associated with Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar.
Commercial gem tourmaline is supplied mainly by Brazil and East Africa, with Afghanistan important for some varieties
Best for: Indicolite is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.25 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.
Indicolite should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.25 in the Trigonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Store separately from harder gems to minimise abrasion and edge wear.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (7.25 Mohs), crystal system (Trigonal), colour profile, and lustre (vitreous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Indicolite sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with pink appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: tourmaline.
