Rubellite Tourmaline with Lepidolite

Item Description

There are thousands of Tourmaline localities around the world, but one of the most famous mines for this beloved mineral is the Jonas Mine in Brazil. In the late 1970s, there was a discovery of some of the most significant Tourmaline crystals ever found. According to the entry on mindat.org, "3.6 tons of high-quality rubellite crystals, including 200 kg of cutting-quality gem rough" were found. This piece is a classic example of these famous Rubellites featuring a sharp, lustrous, gemmy, rich cranberry reddish-pink color prismatic crystal measuring 2.4 cm which is associated with soft lilac-silvery colored "Lepidolite" (no longer a valid species) Mica and no matrix. The piece is in great shape overall, with no major damage. I love how the Lepidolite is enveloping the Rubellite crystal like a scarf, creating a very eye-catching effect. Jonas Tourmalines are among the most important Tourmalines in the world, and here's a great chance to get your hands on a nice example of this classic material.