Tourmaline on Feldspar

Item Description

A very aesthetic, unusual specimen from this famous mien which had a great run in the years 1999-2006 or so, and has largely gone defunct since then (they blasted out the pegmatite on 3 sides). The matrix feldspar crystal is COMPLETE! It is terminated on both ends, the back, and the front where you see that gentle slope down decorated with sparkling purple lepidolite. Off the front-sloping face of the feldspar, hangs a 3.7 cm tall blue indicolite tourmaline. Although it has a hairline crack near its base, it is not repaired (the matrix held it together quite well). Thus, we have a very nice specimen because it is a non-repaired matrix piece (rare from this mine) AND the matrix itself is a crystal, creating a stark and unusual contrast. Also, most matrix tourmaline from this mine were green, not blue. All in all ,a fine specimen. Obtained in a tradeout form a European dealer who had it priced at 2500 euros at Tucson, or about $3600, a value I feel is a very fair retail on something so unusual.