Elbaite, Quartz

Unknown Owner

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The Himalaya Mine did not produce many large quartzes of good quality, and was heavily disrupted geologically so large specimens are rare in any case. Usually large crystals are repaired and heavily damaged - this is not repaired and has only a little damage (mostly to the top-termination facing to the right, out of sight) This is what I like to call a "pocket piece" in that it really illustrates nicely how gem crystals form in the ground. There are 3 tourmalines hanging off the quartz. The gemmier crystal, showing classic Himalaya pink color, is 2 inches plus some extra stalk below the gem area. The second crystal, totally different, is another classic style from the mine. It shows bi-coloration and is doubly-terminated, snugly anchored into the quartz on one edge. It is also 2 inches long. A third, slightly shorter but fatter bi-colored crystal sits on the backside. The tourmalines are undamaged.