Elbaite with Herderite

Item Description

What a nice combo pegmatite piece from Brazil! Parallel growth and and strangely grown treelike Elbaite Tourmaline crystals are nicely accented by a pair of Herderite crystals (which by the way, also confirm the location from an old find). Variegated green and violet-pink Elbaite crystals that are variably chatoyant dominate this piece. Several mostly green, striated, transparent to translucent Elbaites from 7 to 10 cm are tightly bunched and the longest one is terminated on both ends and the other only on one, but there are a few other crystals in parallel growth that are also terminated. There are multiple, smaller Tourmalines that intersect the top of the piece in a complex V and those are also terminated and happen to be mostly green with a little violet-pink on the one end. There is a myriad of very fine Tourmaline crystals that dust one side of the piece preferentially and are dominated by a pinkish hue. The surprise here are two translucent, satin lustered Herderite crystals near the bottom of the piece that are 1.7 and 1.6 cm long, respectively, and have grayish bodies with the larger one having an off-white cap. One is doubly terminated while the other is growing off the stalks of Tourmaline. A really cool piece from Brazil. Old!