Auction Win: The Elbaite “Sandwich” (vein!)
Pickup available at Crystal Castle
Usually ready in 24 hours
Details
Locality: Dara-e-Pech pegmatite field, Dara-e-Pech District, Kunar, Afghanistan
Size: Small Cabinet - 7.5 × 4.8 × 2.7 cm
Highly unusual, we have a portion of Tourmaline Vein that has Elbaite crystals completely filling the space between two layers of matrix. There is minor Chalcedony growth on a few exposed terminations.
Elbaite is a lithium-rich borosilicate mineral in the tourmaline group, with formula Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH). It was named for the island of Elba, Italy, and first described from that type locality.
The Dara-e-Pech pegmatite field is in the Dara-e-Pech District of Kunar, Afghanistan, within the Nuristan rare-melt pegmatite belt. It is geologically notable for Be-Nb-Ta-Li-rich pegmatites hosted in the Early Cretaceous Nilau igneous complex, and for pegmatite varieties that include beryl-bearing and spodumene-bearing bodies. Collectors know the field for fine crystals of morganite beryl, elbaite, kunzite, gemmy aquamarine, bi-colored tourmaline, fluorapatite, and topaz. It remains an important Afghan source for classic gem pegmatite specimens.
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