Detailed information
Species
Elbaite, var. Rubellite, Lepidolite
Dimensions
51 x 53 x 32
mm
Weight
68 g
Locality
Jonas Mine Conselheiro Pena, Doce Valley Minas Gerais, Brazil
Condition
No recorded repairs
Custom Stand
Yes - custom stand included
This miniature tourmaline, Elbaite var. Rubellite, is from the legendary 1978 pocket at Jonas mine at Conselheiro Pena, Doce Valley in eastern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The Rubellite forms two crystals: one broad, intensely deep red prism, 5 cm long, with multiple terminations, and a second narrower, paler, raspberry-pink crystal, 3 cm in length, splaying off from the base at an angle of about 45 degrees. Both tourmalines are heavily coated in rosettes of pale cream to white platy Lepidolite crystals which add significantly to its character and pin it to the 1978 pocket. There is a delicate beauty to this piece and knowing the history of the 1978 pocket to the world of mineral collectors makes it all the more special. Not without damage - there are a couple of chips to the edges of the tourmaline - but a true rarity and a real specialist collectors piece.
