Elbaite Tourmaline, Albite
Posted by: Maia Sinkins on 01.12.2021 | Filed under:

Elbaite Tourmaline, Albite

Specimen # 100870
Mineral: Elbaite Tourmaline, Albite
Location: Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Size: 3.8 x 3.3 x 3.3 cm

Description

Detailed Description

A totally distinctive specimen – the main elbaite tourmaline crystal rises straight through a wide cluster of albite crystals. Both elbaite crystals on this specimen are singly-terminated, deep green crystals with frosted terminations. In excellent condition – no damage to the main elbaite, there is a small missing tip between the two tourmalines, and not at all distracting. The second and third photos were taken using strong reflectors to bring out the colours within the dark larger crystal. A very cool piece!

About These Stak Nala Tourmalines

Since the 1980s, elbaite toumaline crystals from the pegmatites at Stak Nala have been known worldwide. Particularly distinctive and prized when associated with albite crystals, these tourmalines are usually colour-zoned, with dark green to black-appearing centre sections, with zones of green, pink, blue or colourless zones  at the terminations – often, a closer inspection with strong light or a strong reflective background are needed to show these zones. The doubly-terminated crystals from Stak Nala are super examples of hemimorphism (the crystal forms present at one termination are different from those at the other termination). I was fortunate to acquire these from a member of the family that mines them.

Additional information

Dimensions 59 × 36 × 25 cm

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