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Lot 8230

Elbaite—A Gem, Multi-Color Tourmaline

4 December 2005, 11:00 PST
Los Angeles

US$6,000 - US$8,000

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Elbaite—A Gem, Multi-Color Tourmaline

Paprook, Nuristan
Kunar Province, Afghanistan

Named after its original type locality—an area of the island of Elba, Italy. A member of the tourmaline group, elbaite is a sodium lithium aluminum rich tourmaline. Perfection in form is the salient feature of this high-quality crystal with aesthetics that speaks for itself. A perfect trigonal outline with classic, striated crystal faces. Doubly-terminated (with only a slight coating on the bottom), gem-clear, and deeply brilliant in color graduating from pinkish at the base to brilliant bottle-green in the center, then capped by deep pink to its perfect termination—accompanied by a superb luster. Mined only about two months ago, it is the best specimen to have been retrieved from this particular pocket. In the past, pockets containing crystals of similar color and quality were found with some regularity. This is the first new discovery in several years—and these crystals are 2 to 3 times larger than those usually produced before. Measuring 3 ½ x ¾ x ½ in.

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