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Elbaite

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QRI643651

Elbaite

Gem Crystal

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Grotta d'Oggi, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell'Elba, Elba, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Small cabinet (7-10 cm)
Size: 
7.4 × 9.6 × 5.9 cm
Largest Crystal: 
2.00cm
Weight: 
388.00gr
Description

Olychrome elbaite crystal proudly crops out of its nest in the typical Elban aplite matrix. The main tourmaline is a 2 cm long individual, dark blue-green at the bottom with a transparent green tip, perfectly lustrous and terminated.

The main elbaite crystal detached from the matrix during the extraction. It was repositioned in its original lodging and position with a visible drop of glue, thus without a professional restauration, in order to show the repair. 

The matrix is given by microcline and quartz. The main microcline crystal is partially covered by small tourmaline individuals - although most of them not terminated - and a number of transparent quartz crystals. Quartz crystals throughout the specimen are perfectly transparent, with great lustre, and appear to have preferential orientation, most of the times with a parallel growth visible when you turn the specimen against a light source.

The base of the specimen was sawn for better display. The specimen is most likely to be dated to the end of the 80s. This is an excellent specimen from Elba, with also a demonstration of how early reparations were carried out a few years ago.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Elbaite

Formula: 
Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Strunz: 
9.CK.05
Hardness: 
7.5
Streak: 
White
Type Locality: 
Fonte del Prete, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell'Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy...

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