"BENT" TOURMALINE CRYSTAL. ...

Description

"BENT" TOURMALINE CRYSTAL
Pederneira Mine, São José da Safira, Doce Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The gem mineral: Tourmaline is rather odd in that every so often a crystal will come to light that is "bent"- still in one piece but twisted or curved instead of straight, as is normal. It is thought that movement of the surrounding material during crystal growth has resulted in multiple fractures that heal very much like a broken leg in a cast: the fractured piece are held in their new "bent" position while the crystal is still growing and thus, the crystal "heals" in its new "bent" shape. Most of these "orthopedic accidents" are associated with small, heavily included prisms. In this case the bent crystal is larger than normal and is quite lustrous, transparent and possessed of a light greenish blue tint over most of its length with a light pink termination and basal "core". Overall, it measures 3 1/2 inches long x 3/4 inch wide x 5/8 inch wide.

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