I’ve added a small group of beautiful elbaite tourmaline specimens in this Stak Nala Tourmaline Update (click here). Since the 1980s, elbaite toumaline crystals from the pegmatites at Stak Nala, in Pakistan’s Northern Areas, 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, and sometimes pink, blue or colourless zones at the terminations. Often, a closer inspection with strong light or a strong reflective background is needed to fully 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). You’ll see that this update also includes one great lepidolite crystal.
I was fortunate to acquire these from a member of the family that mines them.

Elbaite tourmaline with albite and microcline, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 4.5 cm

Elbaite tourmaline with albite, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 4.8 cm

 Elbaite tourmaline with albite, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 4.4 cm

Elbaite tourmaline with albite, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 5.8 cm

Elbaite tourmaline with albite, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 4.1 cm

Elbaite tourmaline with albite, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Field of view approximately 3 cm

Elbaite tourmaline with albite and microcline, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 5.9 cm

Elbaite tourmaline with albite , Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 3.8 cm

Elbaite tourmaline with albite, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 4.6 cm

Lepidolite mica, Stak Nala, Gilgit-Skardu Road, Northern Areas, Pakistan – 4.6 cm