TUC115-276
Tourmaline With Microlite Inclusions, Feldspar, Cleavelandite
Paprok Mine, Kamdesh District, Nuristan, Afghanistan
Small Cabinet, 8.0 x 6.5 x 5.5 cm
SOLD
This fat, 4 x 4 x 2.7 cm tourmaline crystal is nice enough on its own, contrasting aesthetically with crystallized feldspar and bladed cleavelandite matrix. It is "a cutie" for the size and price range. But what really makes it more interesting are these really sharp 1-2 mm inclusions of golden MICROLITE octohedra within! One crystal comes very slightly to the surface and was microprobed for identification, at the Museum of Milan for me.I have only seen a few such tourmaline, hosting microlite within tourmaline. The piece displays well, and seems to be a one of a kind mined in late 2010. I looked around Tucson for more, but did not see any others.. Joe Budd photos