Auction Win: ‘Himalayan’ Quartz with Elbaite
Pickup available at Crystal Castle
Usually ready in 24 hours
Details
Locality: Chhappu, Braldu Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: Miniature - 5.4 × 2.6 × 3.9 cm
Elbaite is a lithium-rich tourmaline mineral with the formula Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH), prized for its high-quality gemstones. It was first described in 1913 and named after Elba Island, Italy, where its type locality is found. This mineral is the source of lithium used in rechargeable batteries for phones and laptops.
Chhappu is a village in Pakistan’s Braldu Valley, Shigar District, situated at the junction of the Hoh and Braldu rivers about 7 km east of Apo Ali Gun. This locality is geologically unique in the Braldu and Shigar Valleys as the only area with granite pegmatites that contain lithium minerals. Collectors prize Chhappu for its tourmaline specimens, which are confirmed from this site, alongside its significance as a lithium mineral source within high-altitude pegmatite complexes. The area remains relevant to collectors today for its rare lithium-bearing pegmatites and well-documented tourmaline occurrences.
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