FMF - Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jordi Fabre]

A member of the Spanish Forum, Marcelo Olsina, from Argentina, published there ( http://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3617 ) photos of a specimen of watermelon Elbaite with Lepidolite and probably Calcite.

He's not sure about its provenance, maybe Brazil. Not answers yet in the Spanish forum, someone can help here?

[Luiz Menezes]

Hi Jordi:

I don't know where it might come from, if it is from a recent find I would say that the possibilities will be the 2 areas where mining for tourmaline is going on actually in Brazil: Cruzeiro/Aricanga mine and the area of Itinga/Coronel Murta, both in Minas Gerais; Paulo Vasconcelos is aware of what is going on at Cruzeiro/Aricanga but he will arrive in Tucson only next week, I can then show him the photos and ask about his opinion. If the specimen was mined some time ago the only thing I can say is that the locality is "Somewhere, Minas Gerais".

I also have to comment that in my opinion the light yellowish spheical agregates can be mica, instead of calcite, so I would recommend Marcelo Olsina to test it with hydrochloric acid.

Luiz

[molsina]

Hello Luiz

As you said it is mica. I tested it with acid and it cannot be calcite.

Thank you for your help.

Marcelo Olsina