Blue cap Tourmaline (Morgenstein 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 excellent example. This very glassy, well-striated crystal is mostly opaque black schorl with green banding at the base. A juicy, gemmy and lustrous, 5 mm, layered teal-blue and blue zone follows. A narrow, 1 mm, purple zone immediately underlies the moderately lustrous, frosted/etched termination, which even has an uncommon achroite or colorless area. The tourmaline is complete all-around. A bit of contacting, with no damage, per se is noted on the side presentation view and on the termination. Modest termination edgewear is also noted, as is out of sight contacting on the back and one side, with cleavelandite. This is old-time, classic, material from this renowned locale, 1960s or 70s. Ex Maury Morgenstein Collection (an old-time San Diego miner and gem dealer). Valued $750-900.