Detailed information
Species
Elbaite, var. Verdelite, var. Watermelon tourmaline
Dimensions
61 x 52 x 37
mm
Weight
252 g
Locality
Cruzeiro mine São José da Safira, Doce valley Minas Gerais, Brazil
Condition
No recorded repairs
This classic Brazilian bi-coloured 'watermelon' tourmaline specimen is from the legendary Cruzeiro mine at São José da Safira, in the Doce valley, Minas Gerais. Off matrix, it is actually a series of parallel crystals sharing an intense cerise-pink core at its base, with a 3 mm wide bottle-green rim around the outside, with this green verdelite variety of tourmaline dominating its upper prisms where it extends throughout the crystals. In really fine condition, its upper quarter shows superb translucency with an extremely rich intensity in colour. Terminated by an extremely glossy, smooth, flat pinacoid face, several of its subsidiary crystals also show excellent development of triangular faces with sloping edges with some edge wear, but it sits perfectly for display upon its neatly fractured base and most of its termination and sides are in superb, really glassy shape. Lower down, when stood for display, the internal cerise colour can be seen through its green outer edges, this being especially noticeable with directional lighting. Prominent classic tourmaline-style natural vertical crystal growth lines add real character, complimenting the stepped terminations and rich colour wonderfully well. Ex Francis Coune Collection (Belgium), this is a really classy Brazilian verdelite tourmaline with a super hidden 'watermelon' core.
