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CC58874

ELBAITE with Lepidolite

ELBAITE with Lepidolite


Size:
24 x 24 x 45 mm
Weight:
42 g
Regular price $6,500.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $6,500.00 USD
Sale Sold out
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Detailed information

Species Elbaite, Lepidolite
Dimensions 24 x 24 x 45 mm
Weight 42 g
Locality Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Field Zambezia Province Mozambique
Condition No recorded repairs
Although long-known to have produced colourful tourmalines, the broad Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Field in Zambezia Province, Mozambique has furnished very few fine, gem quality individual crystals with what one would consider great colour and clarity. This miniature individual Elbaite crystal is small in comparison to some other gem tourmalines from other worldwide sources, but for Mozambique it is truly exceptional. Extremely glassy, its vibrant tri- or even quad-coloured zonation is perhaps not as vivid as some Brazilian tourmalines, but here it works exceptionally well, grading from a peachy orange-pink base upwards, through a short sherry-orange section into pale lime-green and culminating in a pale strawberry-pink tip. Look closely at its termination and even with magnification you will struggle to spot even the slightest of imperfection, or chipping, and with a complex sequence of additional sloping faces it oozes character. Internally, it is inclusion-rich, but these do not block out the light, but reflect it internally, providing flashes of brilliance and patterns like a hidden world inside. Its base is a fracture surface where it was detached from matrix and around its lower edges are some tiny Lepidolite crystals and one or possibly two very small additional Elbaite crystals. This magnificent smaller Elbaite crystal is one of the finest ever to have been mined in the Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Field. The few higher-end crystals we have seen in the past are always claimed to be from the early 20th century, repatriated from older collections. We don't have the details of when this crystal was found, but based on previous evidence this is most likely from generations ago.

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I bought a specimen but it is not what I expected or was damaged in transit. Can I return the specimen?

Inevitably, sometimes things don't go as expected. Whether the specimen is damaged in transit or the identity is incorrect, we are aware that this can result in the return of a specimen.If your specimen is damaged during shipping, it is vitally important to take a photo of the packaging and specimen in situ. By recording this, we get an idea of the nature and possible reason behind the damage and will be able to process the return much faster.If you discover that the mineral species has been misidentified, we require details of the method of identification in order to understand why you believe this to be the case. If the identity is in question but no formal analysis has been attempted, Crystal Classics will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, this may mean the specimen is sent for analysis to determine the identity.In any scenario where a specimen is analysed and the species in question is not present on the specimen, we will provide a full refund.If you feel that the specimen was misrepresented in any way, please ensure you make contact with us within the 30 day grace period for resolution.In all instances, please ensure that you call or e-mail us immediately, prior to the return of a specimen to Crystal Classics, so that we can advise regarding the returns procedure. Failure to contact us prior to the return of a specimen may lead to the rejection of your return.Shipping costs of all returns are to be covered by the customer, unless the specimen was damaged in transit or if the identity is incorrect.