TUC14-55
Elbaite Tourmaline, "Blue-Cap"
Sapo Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 4.5 x 3.7 x 2.3 cm
SOLD
Few tourmaline finds really "shock and awe" us these days. But in 1998-1999, this remarkable find from Brazil really stunned the mineral community. This is a fabulous miniature of elbaite from the Sapo Mine in Brazil. The main crystal, 3.7 cm in length, is lustrous and translucent with an intense blue, 4 mm thick, termination. Truly beautiful! These stand as one of the most famous tourmaline finds of all time, and specimens today are rare on the market. I was last quoted a price of $1000 per centimeter on loose single crystals of no significance when I saw some turn up for sale. This, however, is a magnificent MATRIX crystal with aesthetics and balance! It is complete all around. The termination is complete, though it has a slight attachment/contact on the back edge. Nearly all crystals were loose, due to the lack of knowledge about collecting minerals at that time, and due also to the actual nature of the deposit. I would guess that only a few dozen matrix pieces came out, and clusters like this are perhaps even more uncommon (I can only recall seeing 4-5 such in the last 20 years). This is a special, rare specimen that is worthy of any collection. While they may resell for a premium, the fact is that few resell because there are few collectors willing to part with theirs. The blue caps on these tourmalines are not just "interesting," they are memorable.