Indicolite Tourmaline with Topaz (rare combo)

Item Description

Here we have a wonderful three-dimensional display specimen from Paprok, one of the great Tourmaline localities in the world. This piece is a rather showy group of beautiful blue Indicolite Tourmaline composed of aesthetically intergrown sharp, lustrous, gemmy/translucent, striated prisms associated with a little sparkling white crystals of Topaz(!), not Quartz and not Albite. While Tourmaline and Topaz are not by any means rare in granitic pegmatite deposits, it's incredibly rare to find them together on the same specimen from Paprok. I also found a TINY light purple colored crystal among the Topaz, but I can't say for certain what it would be, possibly Apatite(?). The main Indicolite crystal atop the specimen is doubly-terminated, creating a very pleasing effect, as it's just off-center from the underlying crystal group. I love the color in this piece, and the added Topaz association just takes it over the top. This is really cool specimen, and one of my favorites I've seen from Paprok recently The group is in great shape overall and the terminations are nearly unblemished (only a few tiny imperfections). Good quality all the way around, and would make a fantastic little addition to any gem crystal suite, a Tourmaline collection, an assortment of Brazilian minerals or a miniature collection. This piece comes to us from the legendary Ron Romanella (February 28, 1932 - October 24, 2022), a well-known gem and mineral dealer from New York City. He studied mineralogy at Columbia School of Mines, and he was mentored by Dr. Frederick Pough of the American Museum of Natural History, and learned about the business side from well-known mineral dealers Hugh Ford and Maurice Hammoneau. Ron himself was a mentor to other successful East Coast mineral dealers such as Larry Conklin, Herb Obodda and even employed Dave Wilber for a time. He largely transitioned out of selling minerals as his business focused more on gems for the last few decades, and his sons Michael and Jerry have been running the family business in Scottsdale for many years now. With that said, Ron was one of the great powerhouse mineral dealers in the US for many years, offering fine quality specimens and gem crystals from classic and contemporary localities. Among his top achievements, is that Ron is credited with importing the first known crystals of Tanzanite into the US in the 1960s.