Name: Elbaite with Lepidolite
Brand: Crystal Classics
Price: 3500 USD
Availability: InStock

Updated 5d ago

Elbaite with Lepidolite

Great Himalaya mine Elbaite crystals are much sought after on account of their rarity and because they are so integral to the history of gem pegmatite mining in the United States. This individual, 6.4 cm long, chunky, doubly-terminated Elbaite crystal is an extremely fine example. One end of the prismatic crystal is a perfectly smooth pinacoid face which acts as a natural base for the crystal to stand up. The other end of the crystal is somewhat castellated, made up of many small crystals sloping at a gentle angle. The prism sides display classic vertical striations - growth lines - and the usual curved sides seen in prismatic tourmaline crystals. Optically, the crystal is translucent but not gemmy, or transparent. Colourwise, over two-thirds of its length is pink, a shade of raspberry pink which lights up beautifully with directional lighting. With artificial light the pink has a slightly orange hue, but in daylight it is a vibrant bubble-gum pink. A thin (1 mm) bluish-grey band marks its 'base' where the pinacoid termination is, and upwards, beyond the pink, a wedge-shaped pale grey layer interrupts the crystal before its bright pink 'crown' of small terminated crystals. The crystal is intact, unrepaired, and represents the classic broad prism usually seen in Himalaya mine Elbaites. The only noticeable damage are a couple of small areas of abrasion on the upper termination, but because the individual crystals are stepped, or castellated, this scuffing is not instantly apparent. A couple of small clusters of platy Lepidolite crystals protrude from the upper sides of the crystal and a rogue 1.5 cm long terminated Elbaite crystal has grown sideways out from the top layer of terminated crystals, making an unusual gap. A really fine, classic Californian Elbaite of great shape, and with an excellent rich pink colour.

$3,500.00