Elbaite Tourmaline, Quartz, Polylithionite-Trilithionite group Mica
Cruzeiro mine,
São José da Safira,
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ex Tomer Shapira
Photo by Tomer Shapira
Here's a lustrous rainbow colored Elbaite Tourmaline on a Quartz crystal matrix with some Polylithionite-Trilithionite (Lepidolite) mica from the Cruzeiro mine in Brazil. This is a prime example of a great Brazilian tourmaline on matrix, with no repairs / restorations as well, which is uncommon for this kind of material. This is a very good larger miniature / smaller-side-of-small-cabinet sized specimen perfect for any serious tourmaline enthusiast.
The Cruzeiro mine is not one, but rather several mines targeting a series of parallel pegmatites named the Cruzeiro pegmatites. The Aricanga mine is a neighboring property which mines the same pegmatite veins, but under different management.