Elbaite with Lepidolite

Unknown Owner

This co-joined pair of pink and green Elbaite Tourmaline crystals is from the world-famous Pala Chief mine in San Diego County, California, USA, and is a choice miniature example of this classic gemstone. Two Elbaite prisms of similar length have grown in parallel, forming a common-joined prism face and only differing by 2 or 3 mm in height, where the flat pinacoid terminations sit adjacent. Both crystals are translucent with differing levels of translucency and grade from zoned green bases, through candy and bubble gum pink bodies to mild green zoned terminations. The latter is only visible when viewed from the sides; from above, both terminations are pure deep pink. Small crystallised stacks of lavender Lepidolite mica crystals are clumped over the prism faces.