FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[headstashcrystals]

Hello I'm completely new to the forum, and a first time poster. I was just wondering if some one could help me out with a couple of questions that I have about a particular Tourmaline specimen I'm looking for. Through my Google images search of the Barra De Salinas mine in Brazil, I've come across a magnificently etched, multi-colored Tourmaline in a cast of Cookeite. I have attempted to attach a picture of it, I hope it displays. My questions are as follows: Does anyone know when this Tourmaline was discovered? Does anyone know if there are anymore of these specimens out there, or is this the only one? And if there are other specimens does anyone have pictures of there own that the would like to share? Thank you all very much!

[Ed Huskinson]

OK Headstasher.

I'm sure that there are other specimens of Elbaite in/on Cookeite from Barra da Salinas around. I do not know however, exactly where to look for them. You will have to contact some Brazilian dealers after first checking MINDAT and then a simple GOOGLE search. E-bay may work as well, who knows?

My fellow FMF'ers should also be helpful in this regard, perhaps via PM. We strive not to offend Jordi who is a first-rate top-notch dealer himself.

I'm confident that there are more of these specimens around, and I wish you luck with your hunt.

Kindest regards,

Ed in Kingman

[Michael Shaw]

The gem-bearing pegmatites located around Barra de Salinas include some of the best known localities in Minas Gerais. For a good description of the area, look up an article in Mineralogical Record, Vol. 33(3):209-216. To my knowledge, there is no Barra de Salinas mine, but a series of mines that are exploited for the gem tourmalines that occur there. According to the MR article, tourmaline was known from Barra de Salinas as early as 1565. I don't know what the current status of the mines is, but there is no shortage of specimens available from this location. At the recent Tucson Show, I saw quite a few tourmaline specimens labeled Barra de Salinas.

Michael