Elbaite with Lepidolite Tourmaline

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Coronel Murta in Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil is renowned for its superb raspberry red Elbaite tourmaline crystals. This imposing 11.5 cm tall individual crystal with minor Lepidolite alongside is not so red as many Coronel Murta Tourmalines and this is reflected in the price. What we have here is a fine, large, terminated prismatic Elbaite crystal which, for the most part is a paler raspberry pink colour and not quite so gemmy internally as some specimens, but externally it is lovely and bright. The crystal looks in great condition and has no reported repairs, but I would not be surprised if there are as they are so common in this material. The termination is clean and free of damage, with a glassy, flat, pinacoid top, with the very top layer showing a much more intense pink-red colour as a lovely distinctive band. The base is a fracture surface, and internally allows the central red core to to seen. The Lepidolite alongside the main Elbaite crystal actually disguises a small cluster of additional red-pink Elbaite crystals, forming a sort of 'handle'. A really quite large, striking specimen for the price.