Elbaite with Lepidolite

specimen number:
2072227

location:
Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil

description:
A lustrous prismatic green crystal of elbaite, this hosting light purple crystallized lepidolite. In good condition.

The Cruzeiro Mine, located in the Sao Jose da Safira district of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is one of the most prolific and famous sources of gem-quality tourmaline in the world. Geologically, the deposit is a classic example of a granitic pegmatite, part of the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province, where extremely coarse-grained igneous rocks formed from residual, volatile-rich magmas. These pegmatites are renowned for their large pockets containing exceptional crystals of rubellite (pink/red tourmaline), indicolite (blue tourmaline), and bicolor variations, often found alongside lepidolite and quartz. Historically, mining in the region began in the early 20th century, but the Cruzeiro Mine specifically rose to international prominence in the 1940s and 1950s. Unlike many historic mines that have faced depletion, the Cruzeiro has remained in nearly continuous operation for over seventy years through the present day. It is managed as a sophisticated underground operation that prioritizes the careful extraction of mineral specimens and gem rough, ensuring a steady supply of high-grade tourmaline for the global jewelry and collector markets.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.