Elbaite Tourmaline

Palelni mine, Khetchel village, Molo quarter,

Momeik Township, Kyaukme District,

Shan State, Burma

Ex Carole Lee Rulney

Photo by Tomer Shapira

The Tourmaline group of minerals are no strangers to weird habits. But what we get out of the Palelni mine in Burma is easily one of the most iconic odd habits for Tourmaline. The Elbaites (and Olenites) that form here vary from having dramatically (for tourmaline) split crystals to being botryoidal. These "mushrooms" come in many shapes, sizes, forms, color gradients, and even textures (Ones that test as Olenite are usually smooth and can get transparent).

The Palelni mine is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Tourmaline locality. These are such goofy crystals that I can't help but just want to collect them all.

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