click on image for larger view

T-142  Tourmaline variety Elbaite  $225
(double terminated)

Stak Nala, Baltistan, Pakistan

5.9 x 1.5 x 1.4 cm.

In the past six or seven years, little of note has been found in the Tourmaline deposits of Stak Nala.  These lipstick-like Tourmalines were found recently and are quite different than the multicolored Tourmalines for which this location gained notoriety.  When strongly backlit, the dark area of this double-terminated crystal exhibits an olive-brown hue on its edges with a very thin band of pink on its bottom.  

click on image for larger view

T-147  Tourmaline variety Elbaite  $185

Cruzeiro Mine, São José da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

3 x 1.7 x 1.4

Although small, this is one fierce-looking, gemmy Tourmaline.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let the pictures do the talking.

 

click on image for larger view

T-141  Tourmaline var. Elbaite with Albite  $45

Paprok, Kunar Province, Afghanistan

2.6 x 1 x .9 cm.

This specimen is another example of the diversity of Tourmalines that can be found at Paprok. This green Tourmaline features a lighter green zone with a light blue termination.  This Tourmaline is quite different than the typical red & green crystals that are usually found at this now classic location.

click on image for larger view

T-133  Tourmaline variety Elbaite  $135

Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique

5.5 x .8 x .7 cm.

A beautiful and lustrous specimen of the variety of Tourmaline, Elbaite.  This crystal, although slightly included in the lower portion, but is gemmy in the upper portion, is a good example of Tourmaline from this location.

click on image for larger view

T-126  Tourmaline variety Schorl  $35

Santa Cruz Mine, Baja California, Mexico

5 x 4 x 2 cm.

This triangular cluster of Schorl crystals exhibits a very lustrous, velvet-like sheen, and in fact is sometimes referred to as velvet Schorl.  Once abundant in the old days, these striking Schorl crystals are not easy to find these days.  This Schorl specimen would be a fine addition to any Tourmaline collection.

click on image for larger view

T-129  Tourmaline var. Dravite on Quartz  $50

Huallanca District, Huánuco Department, Peru

10 x 3 x 3 cm.

This double-terminated Quartz crystal is encrusted and included by hundreds of needle-like crystals of the variety of Tourmaline, Dravite.  Very few of these dramatic included Quartz specimens were found, and from what I have seen, this one appears to be one of the best examples of this mineral association.  This crystal also features a bifurcated termination, one of which has a cavernous, flower-like cluster of minute Quartz and Dravite crystals.  A great specimen for any collector of included Quartz.

click on image for larger view

T-136  Tourmaline variety Elbaite  $190

Cruzeiro Mine, São José da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

5.2 x 1.8 x 1.9 cm.

A nice fat Elbaite Tourmaline from the famous Cruzeiro Mine of Brazil.  This striated crystal exhibits a pleasing grassy-green color in the bottom portion, grading to a darker green in the middle and grading back to an olive-green/green termination which exhibits slight signs of etching.  A good undamaged Tourmaline from a famous location.

click on image for larger view

T-137  Tourmaline variety Elbaite  $40

Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande District
San Diego County, California

2.7 x 2.9 x .5 cm.

A very clear bi-colored pink/greenish-yellow Tourmaline from the world renowned Himalaya mine in San Diego, California.  An excellent thumbnail-sized Tourmaline for your collection.

click on image for larger view

T-097  Tourmaline and Albite  $70

Darre Pech, Afghanistan

4 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm.

This specimen was once a part of my collection.  This Tourmaline exhibits a cat's-eye like chatoyance on it's termination.  Another, more unusual feature of this specimen is that as it grew, it spiraled around the Albite as can be seen in the photo on the left.  These Tourmalines were found in the mid 1990's and none have been found since.

click on image for larger view

T-135  Tourmaline variety Elbaite  $165

Morro Redondo Mine, Coronel Murta, Minas Gerais, Brazil

7.7 x 1 x 1 cm.

This tapered Tourmaline crystal exhibits a translucent olive-green lower portion & a clearer, well-formed, lighter green termination.  A good undamaged example of Elbaite Tourmaline from a famous Brazilian location.

click on image for larger view

T-079  Tourmaline and Lepidolite  $375
Double Terminated

Cruzeiro Mine, Santa Maria do Suaçui
Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil

9.8 x 6.2 x 5.3 cm.

What can I say about this chunky Tourmaline specimen?  It has a dark green core, a lighter green cat's-eye layer on the outside almost completely covered with a jacket of Lepidolite, and a crown of lepidolite centered on the top termination.  I'll shut up now and let the pictures do the talking.  Oh yeah, did I mention that it is also double terminated and it looks even more spectacular in person?

click on image for larger view

T-061  Tourmaline (blue cap) with Albite & Lepidolite  $40

Paprok, Kunar Province, Afghanistan

3 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm.

I'm not sure if this is a really dark Indicolite with a lighter colored cap or a black Tourmaline with a blue cap.  The crystal at the rear is not terminated but I don't think this takes anything away from this specimen.

Page 2