Introduction

This district has produced many green, blue, and bi-colored elbaite crystals, often very transparent and lustrous. Collectors value the district for its well-terminated crystals, some of which rival Pederneira in form. Barra de Salinas is also known for “watermelon” crystals with pink cores and green rims. In addition to these classics, the pegmatites here have yielded crystals in vivid emerald-green, aquamarine-blue, and combinations that grade cleanly from one hue to another. Some crystals are elongated prisms with glassy luster, while others are more robust, with broad terminations that display intricate pyramidal faces. Matrix pieces are occasionally preserved, usually on albite or quartz, and the contrast of colorful tourmaline against white cleavelandite can be striking.

The finest Barra de Salinas specimens are admired for their balance of form, color, and clarity. While production has been sporadic, the district has long been considered a dependable Brazilian source of aesthetic tourmaline. Crystals with bright color zoning, sharp termination, and intact matrix association are particularly prized, and competition among collectors has kept prices strong. A representative Barra de Salinas tourmaline—especially a well-zoned watermelon crystal—is regarded as an essential piece in a serious Brazil suite, standing alongside the great finds of Cruzeiro, Pederneira, and other Minas Gerais localities.