Schorl

specimen number:
2063520

location:
Mananjary, Vatovavy, Madagascar

description:
A loose lustrous black double terminated crystal of schorl. There are no points of attachment, in excellent condition all around. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

The Mananjary District, situated within the Vatovavy region on the eastern coast of Madagascar, is renowned for its complex Precambrian geological terrain dominated by metamorphic host rocks intruded by granitic pegmatites. Historical artisanal and commercial mining activity in the region began in earnest around the middle of the twentieth century, primarily targeting rich deposits of emeralds, rubies, garnets, and pegmatitic minerals. Within these granitic pegmatites and their altered contact zones, schorl occurs as elongated, dark black prismatic crystals, often displaying deep longitudinal striations and well-formed terminations. Formed under boron-rich hydrothermal and magmatic conditions, these crisp black tourmaline crystals are frequently recovered by local Malagasy miners from weathered pegmatite pockets, making specimens from the surrounding Vatovavy region valued among collectors for their classic form and brilliant luster.

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