Elbaite (Tourmaline)

This ex-matrix, 5.9 cm tall Elbaite Tourmaline is from Coronel Murta in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and displays to perfection when stood vertically on its bevelled clear acrylic base.  This crystal, beginning at its base, grades from electric lime-green through a narrow band of turbulent lemon, ginger and green and back into lime-green before terminating in pale candy-pink capped with golden honey-lemon.  The first 3.5 cm of the prism is transparent and gemmy, while shot through by very-fine wispy black hair-like inclusions, normal to the long axis.  The prism faces are striated and the termination is a shallow-angled pyramid. The entire crystal has an excellent glassy lustre and looks even more magnificent when back-lit.  A showy large miniature Elbaite Tourmaline from Coronel Murta.