TOURMALINE WITH ALBITE VAR. “CLEAVELANDITE”

A beautiful 4.2 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm crystal of Tourmaline (likely Elbaite) is embedded in an aesthetic matrix of platy snow-white “Cleavelandite” (a variety of Albite feldspar), thick silvery books of hexagonal Muscovite mica to 2 cm across and Quartz crystals.  The Tourmaline grades form a sea-green near its base, through shades of sea-green-blue to a gemmy termination of indigo.  The termination itself is the flat pinacoid habit, but this extends to about 1 mm above the crystal as feathery, acicular rods and fibres of clear Tourmaline, what would be termed Achroite. In parallel growth with the Tourmaline is a translucent to transparent colourless Quartz crystal with a perfect termination adjacent, and of similar dimensions, to the Tourmaline.  A very fine specimen from the famous deposit at Stak Nala, Haramosh Mountains, Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.