The crystal structures of three Li-Al natural tourmalines (elbaites) containing 0.88-1.39 wt % F are refined to R = 0.0294, 0.0308, and 0.0417. It is revealed that the W threefold anion site is split into two sites, namely, the W1 threefold site and W2 ninefold site (W1-W2 ∼ 0.4 Å, Y-W₁ ≥ 1.94 Å, Y-W2 ≥ 1.75 Å). The following hypothesis is proposed and justified: the W1 and W2 sites are partially occupied by OH groups and fluorine anions, respectively. The ratio of the [YO₄(OH) ₂] octahedra to the [YO₄(OH)F] octahedra depends on the fluorine content and varies from structure to structure. The fact that the W site is more than 50% occupied by fluorine in the structures of two tourmalines under investigation allows the conclusion that fluor-elbaite with the ideal formula Na(Li_1.5Al_1.5)Al₆(Si₆O ₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃F is a new mineral species and that elbaite can be considered a superspecies.