Detailed information
Species
Elbaite
Dimensions
53 x 54 x 37
mm
Weight
210 g
Locality
Tourmaline Queen Mine Pala District, San Diego County California, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
This classic 'blue cap' pink Elbaite tourmaline from the famous Tourmaline Queen mine in Pala District, San Diego County, California is quite short in height, but very broad. Internally, as shown up through its base, it presents an extremely deep cerise colour with a thin, 3 mm outer greyish zone. Off matrix, its base is a fracture surface, with its classic curved three-sided prismatic form bearing prominent vertical growth lines and with a very smooth, glossy, flat pinacoid termination. There are chips around the edges of its termination but with good directional lighting this crystal presents extremely well. Its pale bluish to purple cap extends to 1 cm with the remainder of its 3.7 cm height an intense pink. With different light sources, its cap varies from bluish-grey (daylight) with a purple-pink tip to almost colourless with a vivid pink tip (LED). When illuminated from below the pink colour explodes, overpowering everything with a staggering intensity. Ex Francis Coune Collection (Belgium).