Tourmaline with Lepidolite

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The Cruzeiro Mine is considered to be one of the most important influential mines in all of mineral collecting history, and has produced an incredible variety of specimens, particularly tourmaline. The mine's pegmatitic environment, along with the presence of rare elements like lithium, beryllium, and boron, contributes to the formation of these remarkable minerals.This Tourmaline specimen, on matrix might we add, from the Kennedy collection is a stand-out work of art even amongst the many world-class examples from Cruzeiro: this is saying a lot, considering the competition! A single massive crystal protrudes from the matrix and stands as the focal point, and is accented by ancillary shorter crystals underneath it that are just as colorful and lustrous. This hue is a stunning raspberry pink, almost red in some zones, and absolutely glows in the light. The matrix itself is made up entirely of purple lepidolite, which has a remarkable metallic sheen. Blades of snow-white cleavelandite peek through. Aesthetically speaking, it truly is the perfect specimen.