Elbaite var. Paraiba Tourmaline - image 1

Elbaite var. Paraiba Tourmaline - image 2

Elbaite var. Paraiba Tourmaline - image 4

Elbaite var. Paraiba Tourmaline

Unknown Owner

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Paraiba tourmaline is the trade name given to tourmalines showing a special color range of saturated blue to green hues, with the color caused by trace elements of copper in the tourmaline. The Batalha Mine is the original location for this varietal of tourmaline, which is obviously highly desired and highly expensive relative to other tourmalines. The colors are unique, and the production is small - as generally are the crystals, if of any quality. Although recently, a few years ago, the region produced some "clunkers" of a large size but total opacity. We much prefer the old style of gem gem gem translucent to transparent crystals: these are mostly 1-3 cm sized, that have the classic and iconic gemminess and brightness which the famous Paraiba gemstones are also known and valued for. Such crystals, as this one, are very rare. This is a unique two toned crystal, a large thumbnail, with both windex blue and the chrome green colors. It is one of the larger crystals recovered from a single pocket in about 1992, which a friend of mine obtained and sold off at the time (Jordi Fabre). It went to one of his close customers in Spain, and is only now back on the market. It is actually a large thumbnail example of this material, all things considered, and these are truly impossible to find for sale.