Detailed information
Species
Tourmaline, var. Rubellite
Dimensions
45 x 23 x 21
mm
Locality
Ilapa, Sahatany Valley Vakinankaratra Region Antananarivo, Madagascar
Condition
No recorded repairs
A rare old-time, single crystal of Rubellite Tourmaline measuring to 4.5 cm and displaying two-stepped termination faces. A small third face and striated prism faces also compose this specimen. The Tourmaline is light to a rich deep pink, with an outer glassy translucency, similar in colour and texture to that of a stick of ripe rhubarb! From the Ilapa area in the Sahatany Valley of Madagascar, the specimen comes with an old label from the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris). In all likelihood this is Elbaite, although as it has not been analysed it is recorded as simply Tourmaline, Rubellite being a red variety.