Fluor-Liddicoatite Tourmaline

Unknown Owner

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Some tourmaline crystals and finds just stand out from others, and among the most beautiful and interesting of the different tourmaline species are these multicolored old liddicoatites (a variety, now called fluor-liddicoatite) which come/came only from remote areas of Madagascar and have complicated and unique chemistry that results in the color gradients you see here. Modern finds from Camp Robin area are a bit different in color palette and style from these older specimens out of Anjana. This is indeed an old specimen, for decades in the Destrem collection in Paris (and probably dates to the 1960s-1970s; so the fact that this is pristine is all the more exceptional given mineral collecting in those days was not so advanced in refinement as now). It later sold to Jordi Fabre, and a client of his, where it has been for some time. This crystal is huge, weighty, impactful, and has some of the richest color variation we have seen in these. It is not too light, not too dark, too thick nor too thin. It does need backlighting, as they all do, of course - and the photos show a variety of both frontal and backlighting strengths. Note also that the colors change dramatically depending on whether it is illuminated with hot or cold light, LED or incandescent, etc. This gives a variety to the already varied colors. When well backlit, it will glow in the case with a series of magenta to purpley hues we seldom see. 446 grams (approximately 1 pound in weight). Miraculously, no repairs nor restorations! It comes with a custom lucite base. 446 grams - approximately 1 pound in weight!