Elbaite

Unknown Owner

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This is a highly unusual, large tourmaline cluster which is truly curved. The photo does not convey this well, perhaps, but the main crystal is tectonically curved, bending clearly over the cap of its sidecar (which is not curved). They both have a pleasing, rich blue color grading to hints of purple at the very tips. It is a bit bluer, when backlit, but our photo shows normal lighting from the front. The curving form is most unusual and very rare for this locality in particular. Most tourmalines subject to such bending during growth simply break, or break and re-heal with a messy join. Only the Himalaya Mine in San Diego is noted for crystals of such form as this, but those are pink and this is blue. Weighs 437 grams.