Elbaite

specimen number:
2063387

location:
Santa Rosa Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil

description:
A loose grouping of translucent green lustrous elbaite crystals. No matrix, this consists of one stamped crystal, and then a double terminated crystal coming across the termination of this first crystal. Complete all around and in great condition. The specimen comes with an old label from the Treasure Tunnel in Durango, Colorado.

Situated in the prolific Araçuaí pegmatite district of Minas Gerais, Brazil, the Santa Rosa Mine is embedded within granitic pegmatites intruded into Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks during the Brasiliano Orogeny. Operating for decades through small-scale underground and open-pit mining, the site gained world renown among collectors starting in the mid-twentieth century for producing exceptional gem-quality tourmaline specimens. The locality is particularly famed for its fine elbaite crystals, which occur as sharp, lustrous, dark green to bluish-green prisms, frequently showcasing dramatic color zoning, intense clarity, and classic pencil-thin habit.

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