Elbaite with Lepidolite

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

This miniature-sized Elbaite on Lepidolite matrix from Coronel Murta in the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais state, Brazil is full of character, largely because it is on matrix, which most crystals are not. The Elbaite crystal, or crystals - as there are essentially several perfectly parallel crystal with alligned pinacoid terminations - are glassy and display a superb intense teal blue colour which contrasts nicely with its pale purple-pink pearlescent micaceous Lepidolite matrix. It does have one repair noted but this is professionally done and is common for Brazilian Elbaites on matrix. With directional lighting the teal blue colour - one of the most desirable from Coronel Murta - really does excel.