Elbaite Tourmaline with Lepidolite

Unknown Owner

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This is a lovely and classic bi-colored Himalaya Mine Tourmaline crystal from the famous San Diego gem mine. It's lustrous and gemmy with much of the body of the crystal dominated by an alluring rich, pastel pink that sharply transitions to a thin, 3 mm thick, blue-green zone and then a very thin, 1 mm, very pale blue cap at the termination. The termination is dominated by a flat face with minor pyramidal modifications, all have a satin luster. The lustrous prism faces are lightly striated and all of the edges of the crystal are sharp - all typical of this really classic, iconic American tourmaline mine. A few knots of lavender colored Lepidolite crystals nearly surround the base and are accompanied by a few, small, poorly formed, whitish Albite blades. The mass is 49.71 grams. ex Klaus Neumann Collection. Klaus certainly has built up over 3 decades the largest fine San Diego collection in Europe and parted with just a few duplicates recently.