Description
This tourmaline, variety elbaite, crystal is from Aracuai in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This area contains several mines and diggings in gem and mineral crystal pegmatites. It has 19 known different mineral species including elbaite. It s a type of tourmaline that contains the elements Na, Li, Al, Si, B, and H. Pure crystals are colorless but it can be found in a variety of colors depending on the trace elements incorporated in the crystal lattice. This is a double terminated rubellite crystal with a verdelite top and bottom. There is minor etching or re-crystallization in some areas. The crystal measures 14 x 13 x 9 mm. It weighs 3 grams.