Tourmaline (Elbaite)

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Well, have you ever seen a tourmaline with this array of colours? It is insane, and just so mesmerizing. This small miniature individual Elbaite crystal is from Otjua mine in the Erongo Region, Namibia and is a revelation. Presented as the variety Indicolite due to its electric-blue termination, it could equally be referred to as a Rubellite with its red central zone. With appropriate backlighting this truly is one of the tourmalines that are described as 'zinging'. If ever there was a justification for small is beautiful then this must surely be testament to it. So great is its colour zoning that one nearly forgets that it is fully terminated in the classical three-sided pyramid and its short prism sides are nicely vertically striated. A breathtaking Namibian tourmaline of the highest calibre.