Elbaite

specimen number:
1712697

location:
Baixao mine, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil

description:
A showing purplish red skinning prismatic terminated gemmy crystal of elbaite. This is in terrific condition.

The Baixao Mine, located in the Itinga municipality of the Jequitinhonha Valley in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a prolific source of world-class pegmatite minerals. Geologically, the mine exploits a complex granitic pegmatite body hosted within the Neoproterozoic schists of the Aracuai Orogen. This deposit is characterized by its high degree of fractionation, which resulted in the formation of large miarolitic cavities containing exceptional crystals of tourmaline, particularly the elbaite variety, as well as lepidolite, albite, and quartz. Historically, the mine began significant production in the late 20th century, with peak activity occurring during the 1990s and early 2000s as miners reached deeper, more mineralized pockets. The Baixao Mine is particularly famous among collectors for producing large, aesthetic clusters of tourmaline, often featuring vivid green or blue-green colors with distinct zoning. While operations in the district are often sporadic and fluctuate based on new discoveries, the Baixao Mine remains a key locality for high-end Brazilian mineral specimens and continues to be a site of interest for both gemstone and specimen recovery.

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