Elbaite with Lepidolite on Cleavelandite

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This large miniature specimen from Coronel Murta is a little different to many we see from the gem pegmatites in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Upon it, a smaller, 1.5 cm long, by 0.2 cm wide, colour-zoned terminated Elbaite crystal rises from a richly crystallized Cleavelandite- Lepidolite matrix. This Elbaite crystal is intensely gemmy, with a magnificently sharp, and glassy, pyramidal termination, giving the appearance of a faceted gemstone. It presents an alluring intense pink colour, but with a noticeable short shift in colour three quarters of the way along its length, to pale teal blue-green, then back to pink. Small, but insanely beautiful, this individual crystal is enhanced by its surroundings, with superb large rosetted aggregates of white bladed Cleavelandite and pearlescent lilac platy micaceous Lepidolite crystals, as well as several more small pink Elbaite crystals. A further cluster of orange-brown crystals may well be a member of the Microlite Group but has not been analysed.