Mineral: Elbaite (variety verdelite) on Quartz (variety smoky) and with Albite and 'lepidolite'
Locality: Cruzeiro Mine, Santa Maria do Suaçui, Governador Valadares, Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Dimensions: 56 x 37 x 45 cm / main crystal: 49 cm

Description: Mina Cruzeiro, São José da Safira, vale Doce, Minas Gerais, Brésil Mass: 31900 g MIM number: 2268 Large plate formed of ten very well-formed crystals of smoky quartz (the largest measuring 20 cm), slightly bluish albite blades and lepidolite on which a huge crystal of green tourmaline has formed in a tilted position with several other smaller crystals. The large crystal is translucent on the surface with a deep bottle green color, while the small crystals are transparent. All tourmaline terminations are pointed, some being fibrous. It is remarkable that such an assemblage formed and survived virtually intact, especially in this mine where this is not the usual type of production. Photographer: MCP / Federico Picciani

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