Elbaite Tourmaline

Unknown Owner

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This is a totally gem crystal of Tourmaline from the important locality of Barra de Salinas, and it likely was mined in the 1980s from the style. I first obtained it from Dr Steve Smale, about a decade ago, and sold it to this collector at that time. He in turn obtained it from a source in Brazil in the late 1980s. The green cap on it is striking, with it grading into a thin clear layer before the main part of the crystal becomes a lovely, clear red. Most of us think of this mine for the etched green-and-pink crystals which it is famous for, but this is a different and somewhat earlier find which is seldom seen on the market today, years later. It is quite simply a "gem" - the overall aesthetics are outstanding.