Tourmaline var. Rubellite. Cruzeiro mine, São José da Safira. Minas Gerais. Brazil. ... (Total: 2 Items)

Description

Tourmaline var. Rubellite
Cruzeiro mine, São José da Safira
Minas Gerais
Brazil

Weighing an impressive 10.53 pounds (4.7 kilograms) and measuring 12 x 6 inches (30 x 15 cm), this extraordinary Rubellite Tourmaline crystal stands among the most remarkable mineral treasures ever recovered from Brazil's legendary Cruziero Mine in Minas Gerais. Composed of an aggregate of parallel, individually terminated crystals, the specimen boasts over 65 distinct terminations, each exhibiting a deep, saturated red hue, ranging from 2 mm to 25 mm in size.

The smooth, lustrous surfaces along one side of the crystal reveal the point of natural attachment to the pocket wall-evidence of its original growth environment within the now-famous "Cranberry Pocket." When this remarkable pocket was discovered in September 2013, it was found to have collapsed eons earlier, preserving within it a cache of exquisite Tourmaline crystals. While many specimens from the site were ultimately fashioned into gemstones, only a select few survived in their natural crystalline form. Of these, the present specimen is recognized as one of the largest and finest examples from the acclaimed discovery.

The name Minas Gerais evokes reverence among mineral collectors worldwide-a region synonymous with brilliance and abundance, where for centuries the earth has yielded superlative specimens of Tourmaline, Beryl, and Quartz. Originally mined for Mica in the early 1950s, the Cruziero Mine's later transition to gem production secured its place as one of the world's most storied localities.

This majestic Rubellite crystal embodies the perfect intersection of geological wonder and natural artistry. The large cabinet-sized specimen is accompanied by a custom acrylic base.
Measurements: 12.00 x 6.00 x 4.75 inches (30.48 x 15.24 x 12.06 cm)

Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern California Collector

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