Elbaite Tourmaline: Jonas mine, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Description

Species: Elbaite Tourmaline, Albite var. Cleavelandite

Locality: Jonas mine (João Pinto mine), Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Dimensions: 7.5 x 2.4 x 2 cm.

Ex. Ron Blackstone, Jonathan Woolley, Dana Slaughter collections

A gorgeous “hot pink” rubellite tourmaline crystal group from this iconic locality, from the “big pocket” of 1978. I want to be clear that when I got this specimen, it was labeled as being from the “Cruzeiro mine”, after showing it to several people I consider to be tourmaline experts who know more about Brazilian tourmaline than I do, the consensus across the board is that it is from the Jonas find, which is much more consistent with this color, crystal form, and minor white cleavelandite association. Ron Blackstone obtained this in the early 1980’s, which is also consistent with the time period of this find. A gorgeous Jonas gem tourmaline with the amazing color this find is noted for… and at a price I think it reasonable for this fairly large “floater” group of parallel-growth tourmaline crystals. Classic!!