Elbaite Tourmaline

A single, well-developed crystal of Elbaite Tourmaline enveloped around half of its length by glassy white blades of Albite Feldspar of the variety Cleavelandite. Looking carefully, there is also some associated Quartz, Muscovite and possible Lepidolite mica. From the Stewart mine at Pala in San Diego County, California, USA, the Elbaite extends to just over 5 cm when measured through the Albite, although the length of the display section is a maximum of 2.5 cm tall. The Elbaite forms a somewhat flattened prism with an opaque dark bottle green core becoming translucent to gemmy over the final 5 mm before the termination. In this zone the colour grades from grass green through thin chrome green bands followed by a thin colourless zone, ending with a fine deep mauve pinacoid termination. A choice and classic Elbaite from the Stewart mine at Pala.