SM20-439
Elbaite Tourmaline with Quartz and Albite
Stak Nala, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Miniature, 3.8 x 2.6 x 2.0 cm
SOLD

These unique multicolored, horizontally zoned Elbaites were first mined in the mid to late 1980's at Stak Nala and were found in profusion, but one must look diligently to find quality specimens like this in today's market. The translucent, doubly terminated Elbaite in this elegant combo is multi-hued, grading from pink at one termination to very dark green, to medium gem green, followed by a 1 mm teal blue line, then a pale pink-lavender line and then a colorless, achroite gem termination. It measures 2.7 cm in length and is paired with a colorless to milky, 2.8 cm long, doubly terminated Quartz crystals crystal and the two are aesthetically bridged by a flat cluster of snow-white, bladed Albite crystals. There is a barely discernible internal fracture in both the Elbaite and the Quartz crystals and the bottom termination of the Quartz crystal is imperfect. This is a stellar miniature from the early production at this locality. The blue line at the end is highly unusual (visible more strongly in person). A CLASSIC style, unique in the world to this region, and hard to find in quality miniatures today.

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