Elbaite with Microlite inclusions

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This Paprok Elbaite tourmaline from the remote mountainous Kamdesh District in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan is a stunning large statement piece for any collection, be that of gem pegmatite minerals, or just dramatic colour. At 17 cm tall it catches the eye immediately, with its charming pastel colours - bright, but not overbearing. Bi-coloured, with pink and green sections, its colour shifts repeatedly from dark olive-green at its base upwards through soft pink to olive green and back to pink for its three-sided pyramidal termination. It is an individual, off-matrix, crystal although several smaller pink tourmaline crystals protrude off from its sides and as an unusual twist three dark brown equant Microlite crystals can be seen as inclusions near its base. Microlite is a very rare tantalum-bearing species/group. With backlighting this crystal certainly shows great translucency and presents exceptionally well as a larger tourmaline for display.