{"product_id":"elbaite-with-quartz-lepidolite-and-cleavelandite-5","title":"ELBAITE with QUARTZ Lepidolite and Cleavelandite","description":"With any gem tourmaline occurrence the number of high quality matrix-hosted specimens is always considerably less than individual crystals and, where possible, if crystals become detached during the extraction process they will be repaired, placed back in their original position. This sculptural display, featuring two distinctly different styles of Elbaite tourmaline crystal has three repairs - two along the length of the tallest crystal and another where a separate crystal branches off from this crystal. Like a mountain, crowned in colourful tourmaline, the predominantly white matrix is a complex mix of pegmatite species. At its core is a finely crystallized mass of quite strikingly purple Lepidolite mica with its characteristic pearlescent lustre, but of course most of this is hidden from view underneath the specimen. Making up most of the display surface matrix is snow-white Albite (the bladed variety Cleavelandite) intergrown with a few slightly smoky brown Quartz crystals. Further Lepidolite is scattered across the surface as much paler, to greyish-white, pearlescent platy crystals in rosettes, or a 'books'. The centrepiece though, are the Elbaite crystals which appear in two very different styles. The largest crystal, or tight cluster of three parallel crystals, which rise nearly vertically, is nearly 5 cm in length and shows the classic Coronel Murta hexagonal prismatic form with flat pinacoid terminations and rich strawberry-pink body colour passing upwards into a thin pale aqua to teal-blue zone and thin intense raspberry-red tip. The other crystals, which shoot off at almost right angles, are very different, starting greyish at their base and slowly shifting to a most delightful deep raspberry-red at their tips, which are sloping pyramidal faces. These crystals reach 2 cm in length and show no damage. A truly magnificent sculptural gem tourmaline specimen from Brazil, showing how wonderful the natural world can be.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47200356335791,"sku":"CC33263","price":18500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/8516\/2671\/files\/CC33263_Elbaite_with_Lepidolite_Coronel_Murta_Brazil_220621616414ed_72.jpg?v=1785160829","url":"https:\/\/crystalclassics.com\/products\/elbaite-with-quartz-lepidolite-and-cleavelandite-5","provider":"Crystal Classics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}