Elbaite

For those where aesthetics are important, but they want a story too, this stunning cabinet-sized display multi-coloured Elbaite tourmaline specimen will surely peak some interest. Often, beautiful, vibrant coloured, gem quality tourmaline crystals are displayed off-matrix, or perched on a fragment of rock or random crystal. This piece is different, different in that is encapsulates the very being of a lithium-bearing pegmatite cavity. Yes, ones eyes are immediately drawn to the two prominent tri-coloured flat-topped hexagonal prismatic crystals of Elbaite, and for good reason - they are exquisite. Reaching 4.8 and 4 cm in length, they are a really great size and present the now classic colours for this distinctive hexagonal style of tourmaline crystal from Coronel Murta - dominantly strawberry-red, passing upwards through a short teal-blue/green band just below the termination with a thin intense raspberry-red tip. But, look beyond them and they are paired with two large, well-formed, terminated cream coloured Quartz crystals. Where though I hear you ask, is the lithium in a lithium-rich pegmatite? Well, apart for the small amount in the tourmaline it is usually in Lepidolite mica and this specimen is liberally carpeted in soft pink pearlescent Lepidolite as small platy crystals and rosetted aggregates. This specimen has two reported repairs. This usually involves the reattachment of tourmaline crystals to the matrix in the exact position that they came from when they were dislodged during collecting. This is standard practice and common in the world's best gem tourmaline display specimens. This specimen also comes with a custom-made Sunnywood acryllic display stand.