Elbaite Tourmaline with Quartz

This 3.2 cm tall Elbaite Tourmaline crystal is from a new gem pocket found in the Coronel Murta district of Minas Gerais in Brazil.  The pocket contained a stunning variety of vivid pink Elbaite crystals associated with various combinations of typical pegmatite species such as Quartz, Albite Feldspar and Lepidolite Mica.  This translucent prism has a small unterminated Elbaite set horizontally just above its base and several milky-white, double terminated Quartz crystals epitaxially aligned up one side.  The crystal has a curved triangular pinacoid termination and when back-lit, displays a number of gemmy patches.  No repairs have been made to this specimen and it is displayed nicely on a small colourless acrylic base.