Elbaite with Lepidolite

This long individual Elbaite tourmaline from Coronel Murta in Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais state, Brazil has a really rich intense teal-blue colour when presented with good backlighting. It looks superb, and at 11.8 cm in length you might ask why it is a cheaper price? Well, firstly there are two repairs, both of which show up under UV light. Both are extremely well done and are almost invisible in natural light, but one includes a small infill along with the usual fracture repair. Secondly, the upper section of the crystal is not well terminated: it has a natural flat top, but rather than being across the crystal's full width, the top tapers on one side, with a rough stepped arrangement with essentially many smaller terminations all at different levels. On the other side of the upper prism a natural vertical fracture surface is visible and a couple of naturally rehealed horizontal fractures are also evident. The lower section of the crystal is surrounded by clusters of platy pale purple Lepidolite mica crystals and the bottom of the crystal is a natural fracture surface. So, overall, a big and colourful Coronel Murta Elbaite with some very good qualities, but with a few flaws too.

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Elbaite, Lepidolite

SizeCabinet

Dimensions11.8 x 1.7 x 1.7 cm

Locality

Brazil, Minas Gerais, Coronel Murta

Added on03/26/2025

Comments

Known provenance

2025/03