Bi-colored Tourmaline w/ Quartz (Pala Intl. Coll.)

Item Description

The Stewart Mine is renowned for gorgeous, "hot-pink" tourmaline, but has also produced very fine bi-colored tourmalines, such as this fine combination example. This very glassy, well-striated crystal is mostly black schorl with a sheath of gemmy, olive-green tourmaline. A juicy, gemmy and lustrous, 2 mm indicolite-blue zone follows and lies just below the mirror-bright, very dark purple termination. The tourmaline is nicely accented with quartz. The tourmaline is complete all-around and essentially pristine. The tourmaline and quartz on the back are contacted, but there is no damage, per se. The very trivial termination edge wear is noted, but has no impact on the fine quality of this piece. This is older, classic, high quality combination material from this renowned locale dating to the 1950s to early 70s. Ex Pala International Company/Bill Larson San Diego County Collection.