Elbaite Tourmaline

The district of Coronel Murta in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is host to many pegmatite bodies and is famous for its magnificent Tourmalines.  This beautiful Elbaite crystal measures an impressive 12.8 cm and forms an isosceles triangle in cross section.  Remembering back to school days, this is a triangle with two equal sides and, as in the case of this Tourmaline prism, a shorter third side.  This ex-matrix specimen has a rough base and perfect termination, with deeply striated faces and an asymmetric trigonal termination.  The entire crystal is glassy with a bright reflective lustre, and although flawed and cloudy, is completely translucent.  In general, the prism is deep green and once back-lit displays beautiful rich hues of electric lime green bordered either side by a more bluish-lime.  Towards the termination the prism turns blush-pink with a golden-apricot termination.  An additional stunning feature is that of a 3.5 cm long zone of silky bright pink Elbaite enclosing a bluish-leaf green centre towards the base of the prism, reminiscent of red and green candied rhubarb.  A delightful Elbaite Tourmaline from Brazil.