Elbaite with Muscovite

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This unusual combination of olive-green Elbaite tourmaline within a cream coloured Muscovite matrix is typical of the famous Golconda pegmatite field at Governador Valadares, Doce Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Although not specifically labelled as from Golconda (just Governador Valadares) this large miniature piece comes from an older collection and possibly dates to when mining at Golconda was still ongoing (1960s). The main Elbaite crystal reaches over 5 cm in length and has a slightly 'nibbled' flat pinacoid termination, but its prism sides are nicely gemmy and its colour is quite distinctive.