DEN12-20
Tourmaline (Blue-Cap)
Sapo Mine, Hinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 4.4 x 2.3 x 1.7 cm
SOLD
These bluecap tourmalines are now Brazilian classics, and treasured when they come up again for sale out of collections. This is a very richly colored, bluecapped tourmaline from the now famous pockets of the late 1990s at important mine (at the time, it was relatively little-known!). I would say this pocket will be remembered as one of the most important tourmaline finds for the collector, recognizable by style to a single find in the early years of the internet age for minerals (the last pocket of them was sold at prices 50 times higher than the first trickle, due to websites showing their value from the Tucson show in 1997 or so). These bluecaps were the hit of the tourmaline market at the time, and no more have been found there to this day. This piece is 28 grams. I have seen them selling by the gram in some places, at quite a bit higher prices than listed here, and even as metaphysical items at a higher premium still. The crystal is complete all around, 360 degrees. Lastly, clusters were rather rare, at the time.