Elbaite var. Indicolite (Tourmaline)

The Cruzeiro mine at São José da Safira in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is one of the world’s premier gem producing mines, begun in about 1915 and still working to this day.  The mine works a classically zoned granite pegmatite deposit with zones defined by both mineralogy and texture.  This Elbaite specimen is a fine example of the blue variety known as Indicolite and forms a vertical prism of about 4.5 cm tall.  This emanates from a 5 cm broad, part massive-part crystal of Indicolite set amongst coarsely crystallised Albite feldspar and Muscovite mica.  A smaller, 1.8 cm tall Indicolite crystal grows parallel to the main prism by its base.  The Elbaite is deep inky indigo blue with a deeper blue cap which forms the flat pinacoid termination.  A delightful small cabinet specimen from the Cruzeiro mine.