Elbaite Tourmaline

This beautiful miniature Elbaite Tourmaline is from a pocket discovered in the Coronel Murta pegmatite in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais; an area known the world over for its magnificent gem minerals.  This single, ex. matrix Elbaite crystal measures 4.1 cm tall and has a slightly elongated asymmetric hexagonal cross-section.  The prism grades from limpid flamingo-pink pervaded by wispy dislocations within the Tourmaline lattice to an increasingly gemmy and intensifying hot cerise-pink.  This is followed by an orange-crimson zone then finally a termination of ruby and cranberry-red.  The termination forms an almost symmetric pyramid with mirror-smooth faces and a brilliant glassy lustre.  A fabulous Elbaite Tourmaline from Coronel Murta, mounted vertically on a small, colourless acrylic base.