Elbaite var. Verdelite on Quartz - image 1

Elbaite var. Verdelite on Quartz

Unknown Owner

Little Three mine, near Ramona, San Diego County, California is a well-known gem-bearing pegmatite occurrence but the Tourmaline from there is renowned for being very dark, or opaque, and rarely gemmy. This miniature specimen is an exception to this, bearing an intensely green, glassy, Elbaite, var. Verdelite crystal alongside a crystal of Smoky Quartz. The Elbaite crystal measures 1.3 cm in length and displays a perfect, pristine termination. The base of the crystal is black, opaque, and fractured in two places, but naturally rehealed, and rapidly transitions upwards into gem quality green Verdelite for the final 0.8 cm. This might be a small specimen but the Tourmaline is of the highest quality for this mine.