Elbaite Tourmaline: Jagindi District, Kafanchan, Kaduna, Nigeria

Description

Species: Elbaite Tourmaline

Locality: Jagindi District, Kafanchan, Kaduna, Nigeria

Size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm. (52.4 grams)

Unique doubly-terminated gem tourmaline crystal from recent finds in the Jagindi District, Kafanchan, Kaduna, Nigeria. What makes this crystal special, in addition to the striking “hot pink” to green color and high degree of transparency, is that is is terminated at both ends by unusual slanted basal faces which are in parallel to each other at both ends. Gem tourmaline does exhibit this morphology occasionally but seldom in aesthetic gem-quality crystals! A beautiful and striking tourmaline from recent finds. Mark Cross photo.