Detailed information
Species
Elbaite, Cleavelandite
Dimensions
41 x 40 x 92
mm
Weight
103 g
Locality
Stak Nala, Haramosh Mountains Skardu District, Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Condition
No recorded repairs
This beautiful Elbaite tourmaline from Stak Nala in the Haramosh Mountains in northern Pakistan is really distinctive in its appearance and very fun. Yes, it has the typical pale pink coloured termination upon a darker green prismatic body, and the associated fan-like aggregates of platy Cleavelandite crystals, but the quality of the Elbaite is extremely good, with no damage to be seen. The surfaces of the Elbaite are slightly waxy in appearance and not instantly bright, but with good back lighting bright colourful flashes of more translucent, almost gemmy areas are evident. However, the really distinctive part is the lower part of the Elbaite crystal which forms a 'leg' or 'stand' upon which the broader upper part of the crystal sits. This makes the specimen look like a rocket, with the bright green and pale blue layered gemmy base giving the impression that the rocket has been lit, ignited ready for take off. The upper termination is nicely formed, with a three sided pyramid with no apparent damage. The base of the Elbaite prism is a natural termination with the partial development of three shallow angled pyramidal faces but cropped by a pinacoid face with no damage. A small similarly coloured Elbaite protrudes from one side of the main crystal roughly halfway up shrouded in Cleavelandite. The specimen sits naturally upright for display and is a very fine example from Stak Nala.