Tourmaline (Var: Indicolite), Tourmaline, Quartz (Var: Smoky Quartz), Lepidolite, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite)

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A showy and important CABINET combination piece from the 2003 find at the Cryo-Genie Mine of two indicolite tourmalines to 4.3 cm with glassy, translucent, smoky quartz crystals, purple lepidolite and milky-white cleavelandite. The upper portion of the tourmalines are very gemmy and lustrous and both have matte-finish terminations. Pegmatite pocket tectonics often cause disruption of the contents and thus some breaks in situ, in San Diego in particular. This piece has been expertly repaired once in the midpoint of the larger tourmaline but this is on the backside and you cannot see the line from the display face. This remains important because it is one of few matrix gemmy tourmaline specimens from the mine, and the tourmalines are quite showy as they peek above the matrix to the front. There is minor edge damage to one of the smokies - certainly does not detract from this very showy piece. The base and back have been sawed to enhance display so it sits nicely, just so. This is a very RARE San Diego specimen from a short-lived mine! Ex Chris Korpi Collection 12.0 x 8.0 x 7.0 cm