Elbaite Tourmaline

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A uniquely zoned, gem Elbaite Tourmaline crystal from the famous old gem mines in the Virgem da Lapa district. This gem beauty is completely limpid and vertically zoned with a light teal-blue Indicolite central zone flanked by lovely medium blue zones on either side for great aesthetics. This piece could be two crystals in almost parallel growth consisting of one wider crystal with a more slender companion that is very much intergrown with the larger one and only slightly offset. This Elbaite crystal is very glassy and lightly striated with a nice termination and sawn base on the other end to enhance displayability. The edges and faces are sharp with only one edge having some trace chatter and there are only a few, barely discernible, horizontally oriented internal fractures. This beautiful gem has a mass of 20 grams. Old material, of a style and color that was normally cut for gem rough (even if small, good blue indicolite has value to the outside world!).