Elbaite with Microcline, Lepidolite

specimen number:
2242033

location:
Mawi, Nuristan, Afghanistan

description:
a choice and attractive grouping of lustrous gemmy pink elbaite crystals almost 4.0 cm in height coming perfectly off of a feldspar rich matrix with minor lepidolite. This is in super condition. The specimen comes with a previous label as seen at the end of the video.

Mawi, located in the Nilaw-Kolum pegmatite field within the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan, is a world-class locality for gem-quality minerals. Geologically, the site consists of complex, lithium-rich granitic pegmatites that formed during the Cenozoic era as part of the massive tectonic collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. These pegmatites are famously hosted within ancient metamorphic rocks and are prized for producing elbaite, the lithium member of the tourmaline group, which often appears in refined, multi-color crystals with elegant tricolor zoning. Mawi specimens are frequently found in aesthetic association with bladed white cleavelandite, lepidolite, and occasionally rare pink morganite beryl. Historically, mining and quarrying at Mawi have been conducted through traditional artisanal methods, with local workers excavating deep, narrow tunnels into the steep mountain slopes using hand tools and small explosives. While the region has a history of mineral exploitation stretching back centuries, Mawi gained significant international recognition for its high-luster, "pastel-toned" elbaite in the late 1970s and 1980s. Despite the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and regional instability, the locality has remained a consistent source of top-tier mineral specimens for the global market through 2026.

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