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Mineral Specimens with Elbaite
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5.6 x 3.8 x 2.6 cm. This is a geometrically complex, castle-like tourmaline whose shape is the product of intricate natural etching or dissolution effects acting upon the original tourmaline crystal. While common in spodumenes and kunzites, this effect is much less often seen in tourmalines. The piece is 3-dimensional and complete-all-around, except for some contact on the lower periphery where it stands. It is the most elegant of the three good specimens I saw at the Munich 2009 show. The shape and complexity is really mesmerizing, and quite different than other tourmalines you commonly see except for a certain resemblance in style to a few pockets from the Barra da Salinas Mine (famous for its etched scepters). Nevertheless, the color here is what takes this pocket to another level of uniqueness. They are an intense candy-red in color. These are more colorful even than the Jonas mine rubellites, which most of us consider to be the finest red rubellites known for purity of color. Only 4 specimens were available at the Munich Show, from what is reputed to be this very small pocket found in October of 2009.
4.1 x 3.3 x 3.2 cm. This is a geometrically complex, castle-like tourmaline whose shape is the product of intricate natural etching or dissolution effects acting upon the original tourmaline crystal. While common in spodumenes and kunzites, this effect is much less often seen in tourmalines. The piece is 3-dimensional and complete-all-around, a floater. It has a broken bottom face that re-healed over that natural break, in geological time, and so is smooth compared to the rest of the specimen. The shape and complexity is really mesmerizing, and quite different than other tourmalines you commonly see except for a certain resemblance in style to a few pockets from the Barra da Salinas Mine (famous for its etched scepters). Nevertheless, the color here is what takes this pocket to another level of uniqueness. They are an intense candy-red in color. These are more colorful even than the Jonas mine rubellites, which most of us consider to be the finest red rubellites known for purity of color. Only 4 specimens were available at the Munich Show, from what is reputed to be this very small pocket found in October of 2009.
10.0 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm. This is absolutely gemmy and sparkles all around. Everything is complete and pristine. Ex. Dr. Eugene Meieran Collection.
7.3 x 3.4 x 2.5 cm. A very colorful cluster of lustrous, multihued, purple-capped, gemmy tourmaline draped by sparkling lavender lepidolite which really makes the piece by its accent and contrast. This is a gorgeous specimen, one of the few smaller tourmalines that Gene has long been reluctant to part with even though his tourmaline collection has long since moved to 6-inchers and longer crystals. This is an older specimen, probably from the 1970s or early 1980s; and is not from recent finds since the recent re-opening of this mine for specimen production. Ex. Dr. Eugene Meieran Collection.
8.5 x 1.1 x 0.6 cm. The alternating colors of light pink and orange and amber hues, along with the incredible transparency and dramatic sparkling effect of some in situ etching, make this elbaite pencil a thing of unique beauty. These pastel colors are rarely associated with such a gemmy crystal of tourmaline, in my experience. Ex. Dr. Eugene Meieran Collection.
12.3 x 2.3 x 1.9 cm. This is a very unusual, glittering tourmaline. It is 100% translucent to transparent, deep pink, and etched on the surface in such a way that it glistens from any angle, like a cat’s-eye effect. The dark, opaque termination has a strange, roughly etched appearance, atypical of most elbaites. In fact, the whole specimen is atypical of most elbaites, which is why it is special. Ex. Dr. Eugene Meieran Collection.
2.2 x 1.9 x .8 cm. This is really quite an amazing Elbaite. The crystal consists of a lustrous and gemmy raspberry red Elbaite overgrowth on a schorl core. The form and aesthetics of the overall piece are incredible, as if it was something out of an enchanted forest. Ex. Wendell E. Wilson Collection.
A gemmy and lustrous bi-colored Himalaya tourmaline that grades from green to cranberry-colored at the pyramidal termination. A couple of purple lepidolite clusters at the base add character. One termination face and part of another face are etched. Backlighting highlights the beautiful color variations. Classic and pristine Himalaya material. 4.5 x 2.8 x 2.6 cm
4.1 x 0.9 x 0.7 cm. A fantastic, gem, lustrous, rich blue-green color (with a minor pink zone at the termination) crystal from the Pederneira mine in Brazil. These Tourmalines are some of the most prized and acclaimed Tourmalines from any mine in the world. The specimen is in wonderful condition, and is about 90% water-clear. It has an opaque pink pyramidal termination. Ex. Brian Kosnar Collection.
6.7 x 1.1 x 1.1 cm. A beautiful, gemmy and lustrous, polychrome tourmaline from recent finds at the Pederneira Mine. The entire length of the body is a beautiful, banded, teal-blue. The very interestingly etched, 3-sided, pyramidal termination is olive-green and there is a faint hint of pink at the base.
2.6 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm. A beautiful, gemmy and lustrous bi-colored tourmaline from the Himalaya Mine. The classic, doubly terminated, well-striated crystal has alternating bands of pleasing, vivid, "Himalaya pink" and several shades of very complimentary green. The pinacoidal pink termination has either an embedded quartz, feldspar or cookeite crystal. Complete-all-around. The color banding and gemminess on this crystal are gorgeous. Weighs 7 grams.
5.5 x 4.7 x 1.1 cm. The incredible, scintillating, cranberry-red color saturation on this gemmy and lustrous polished tourmaline slice is stunning. This is old-time, very high quality and very rare for the color material from the famed Dunton Mine of Maine. The outer rind is, in fact, a very interesting accent to this amazing tourmaline slice. Ex. Robert Whitmore Collection. Weighs 47 grams.
Grading from pink, to green, and back to pink again, an extremely gemmy elbaite with a fine termination. 3.0 x 1.0 x 0.7 cm
5.1 x 2.8 x 2.4 cm. An aesthetic combination watermelon tourmaline from recent finds at the famous Pederneira Mine. Three-quarters of the gemmy and lustrous green crystal has a cranberry-red core. A pretty teal-blue zone follows and the lustrous termination is a nice emerald-green. The two "snowflakes" of glassy cleavelandite blades and the rich peppering of lavender lepidolite are fine accents. Very highly representative material from this noted locale.
A gorgeous pencil of tourmaline, doubly-terminated, gemmy from top to bottom, a wonderful pink grading to light green at one termination. ex. Scott Williams collection
4.3 x 0.5 x 0.4 cm
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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