Tourmaline with Albite and Quartz

Item Description

Morocco is not a country that people associate with Tourmaline, but the contemporary finds at Beni Bouzra have produced some truly fine quality, eye-catching and colorful Tourmaline specimens in recent years. This particular specimen reminds me of the old classic pieces from Elba (the namesake for the Tourmaline species Elbaite), as the coloring is quite similar. This specimen features several gemmy, lustrous golden-yellow colored prismatic crystals aesthetically intermixed with chalky white Albite and translucent Quartz crystals. The main Tourmaline crystal atop the specimen measures 8 mm, but there is a large incomplete crystal on the back of the piece. The main Tourmaline has a thin dark "cap", which is highly reminiscent of the old Elba material (sometimes called "testa nera" = "black head"). A few of the secondary Tourmalines are broken, but the main crystal and one additional crystal on the lower front edge are in fine shape. A lovely example of these beautiful and distinctive Tourmalines from this unlikely locale in Morocco.