A pair of terminated transparent Tourmalines from vintage 1980 finds at Coronel Murta (Minas Gerais, Brazil). This Elbaite is also quite dichroic and best appreciated when rotated in front of a polarized light like a computer screen. The color ranges from almost colorless blue hue to a very dark green. In very good condition overall, this is nearly all facet grade clear and has fine well-developed striations. 17.5 grams and quite different from more recent Brazilian Tourmalines. This will fit at an angle in a perky box but not a 1 inch cube.
A small cluster of bright pink Tourmalines with good translucency and gem transparent sections. This has sharp edges, well-formed striations and flat terminations in excellent condition. Any such specimens from this locality are very rare and any good ones like this are simply never seen on the market. This is mounted on a 19th century style turned wooden base. Certainly the best specimen I have seen from this locality but honestly I have seen very few others, and none ever outside of museum collections.
Elbaite - unusual California tourmaline color
stock #AX-7-181-(144)
Himalaya Mine, Gem Hill,Mesa Grande District, San Diego County
California,
United States
2.7 x 1.2 x 1.1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $640
Spring 23
A sharp and unusual gem Tourmaline from old finds at the famed Himalaya Mine. Ex Larry White collection, which he obtained in 1964 with two other Himalaya Tourmalines, but this was the only one with this color. We usually see the pinks and some yellow-greens but this mint green to bluish color is very uncommon. The condition is excellent, the termination complete and with fine transparency, this is nearly all facet grade Tourmaline. Better in person.
Elbaite - Bubble gum pink tourmaline
stock #23.1-276
Tsanigal Pegmatite, Pachigram
Nuristan,
Afghanistan
4.5 x .9 x .7 CM (miniature)
price: $480
Spring 23
Gemmy bubble-gum pink Elbaite crystal from a new find in a little known pegmatite in the Pachigram (Afghan) area. Unlike earlier finds nearby, the crystals in this single pocket are more slender in proportion and can have a slightly colorless or blue zone at the termination. This is in excellent, undamaged condition, it is even fully recrystallized on the bottom end, so it is techically doubly terminated. Most of these were broken from their matrix in natural events long ago, but some like this have rehealed the original connection point. An attractive Tourmaline from an unusual locality.
Elbaite
stock #AX-7-041
Barra do Salinas Mining District, Coronel Murta
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.6 x 1.9 x1.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $960
Spring 23
A glassy Tourmaline with stepped prismatic terminations weighing 37.45 Grams. Classic Minas Gerais crystal from old finds at Barra do Salinas. This is mostly a dark green with some blue zone near the bottom section. This displays best with backlight it looks dark without some. In very clean condition, no damage by naked eye and looks fine on all sides. Ex Larry White collection, Larry was a well respected collector with very good quality judgment.
A sharp and well-zoned gem Tourmaline crystal shows up to 6 separate color areas. The crystal is perfectly terminated and 4.1 CM tall, perched on the side of a single Quartz prism. The top section of the Elbaite is nearly colorless but in some light sources has a very pale purple-blue hue. The bottom section of the crystal is contacted, incomplete and rough but with a partial, crude termination. Well-striated and lustrous in person. From finds about 9 years ago at Stak Nala (Pakistan); this pocket had some usually vivid color with much less dark zone. There is a crack in the back of the Quartz crystal that looks like it has been repaired, this does not affect the Elbaite but it does make the price much lower than otherwise. Since the crack is not seen on normal display at all this gives an excellent value for a nice, sizable gem crystal on a fine matrix.
Elbaite - Jonas Mine, classic locale
stock #22.1-170
Jonas Mine, Itatiaia District, Conselheiro, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
6.6 x 1.2 x 1.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $1350
Spring 23
From the famed find at the Jonas Mine decades ago, this Tourmaline shows the classic cranberry red color with the slight hint of purple that makes these crystals so distinctive. In excellent condition the main crystal has several stepped terminations and a smaller parallel crystal has simple prismatic termination. No damage except on the base where it was attached, this is of course invisible when the crystal is standing. Looks fine on all sides and the color and luster are first rate.
Elbaite (castellated termination)
stock #15.1-509
Paprok, Kamdesh District
Nuristan,
Afghanistan
7.1 x 5.1 x 4.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $1150
Rubellite variety Elbaite crystals in a complex cluster on contrasting matrix. The termination is a series of sharp spires and a deep recessed void that also contains spikes of Tourmaline. The Elbaite is translucent to transparent in fine condition. The matrix is also well-crystalized and overgrown with white Albite. From a find more than 10 years ago at Paprok this is quite different than the usual material seen from this famed mine. Esthetic and attractive on all sides.
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