Description

Detailed Description

This pair of parallel-growth deep green elbaite tourmaline crystals is distinctive for the colour zoning. The outer (shorter) crystal has a significant zone of pale green to colourless. The tourmaline crystals are flanked by albite blades. The tourmaline crystals are singly-terminated, and in excellent condition with no damage, except on the side which is opposite the display side (the back), there is a small, lower, parallel crystal tip missing – not visible as displayed. Good contrast – an attractive piece.

About These Stak Nala Tourmalines

Since the 1980s, elbaite toumaline crystals from the pegmatites at Stak Nala have been known worldwide. Particularly distinctive and prized when associated with albite crystals, these tourmalines are usually colour-zoned, with dark green to black-appearing centre sections, with zones of green, pink, blue or colourless zones  at the terminations – often, a closer inspection with strong light or a strong reflective background are needed to show these zones. The doubly-terminated crystals from Stak Nala are super examples of hemimorphism (the crystal forms present at one termination are different from those at the other termination). I was fortunate to acquire these from a member of the family that mines them.