Tourmaline from Brazil, Minas Gerais, São José da Safira, Aricanga mine

Tourmaline (Elbaite)

PKS operation, Aricanga Mine, Sao Jose da Safira, Minas Gerais

5.3 x 1.5 x 1.4 cm

ex. Stephanie Joplin

ex. Mark Cross

A striking elongated prismatic crystal displaying dramatic color zoning along its c-axis. The crystal terminates in a pink pyramidal termination that grades down through a rich raspberry-pink cap, transitioning through a mint-green band into a long, nearly colorless central zone marked by dark inclusions along internal growth planes. Below this, the color returns to pink before deepening into a saturated forest-green zone at the crystal’s base, with a small secondary lilac-toned crystal attached near the lower edge. The crystal exhibits gentle, yet well-defined striated prism faces typical of tourmaline’s trigonal habit, with excellent transparency through the lighter zones. Excellent and undamaged pyramidal termination. A beautiful gem!