Indicolite on Smoky Quartz (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 outstanding and very aesthetic combination example. This very glassy, well-striated 3.5 cm crystal is mostly black schorl. A narrow, achroite zone is followed by a juicy, gemmy and lustrous, 8 mm beautiful blue zone. A narrow, 1 mm, purple zone immediately underlies the lustrous, frosted/etched termination. The tourmaline is fabulously set in cluster of glassy smoky quartz crystals with cleavelandite on one side. The tourmaline has one very clean repair at the schorl/achroite contact (with minor epoxy fill at join). The rest of the piece is complete all-around and essentially pristine, with only infinitesimal termination edge wear to the indicolite. This is old-time, classic, high quality combination material from this renowned locale, 1960s or 70s. It looks like a $5000+ piece. Ex Maury Morgenstein Collection (an old-time San Diego miner and gem dealer). Valued $2000-2250.