Brazil

Dear Platinum-Level Members,

For December 2012, our Mineral of the Month is the most familiar and gemologically valuable of the tourmaline-mineral group.  As you may be aware, elbaite occurs in an unusually broad variety of colors.  Our specimens of pink elbaite prisms set in a matrix of white, milky quartz produces a soft, but beautiful color contrast.  Our elbaite specimens are from Minas Gerais, Brazil, which most mineral and gemstone experts recognize as the world’s foremost gem source.  As our write-up explains, the tourmaline minerals have unusually complex chemistries.  Mineralogists’ ongoing efforts to recognize new tourmaline species and to modify the tourmaline-classification system reflect the fact that mineralogy is a dynamic and continuously advancing science.

Elbaite specimens are graded by crystal size, degree of crystal development, nature of the matrix; overall aesthetic appeal, and color(s).  When Dimitri acquired our elbaite specimens at this September’s Denver Gem & Mineral Show, he also purchased a small number of specimens of unusual size, degree of crystal development, and complexity.  We are now making these acquisitions available to our Platinum-Level members and have arranged these specimens in three groups by size and overall collector appeal.

To complement our featured mineral this month we have shorl (black tourmaline) and a deep green tourmaline of gem-quality that is a bi-colored “watermelon” variety on the offer sheet.

If you feel that any of these special elbaite-in-quartz offerings would enhance your collection or serve as an eye-catching display piece, we would be pleased to provide additional information.

Group 1:Specimens in this group include on average at least a half-dozen pink, elbaite prisms in a white, milky quartz matrix.  Prisms are about one-inch long and the terminations of some approach gem-quality transparency.  Specimen sizes: 2.5”x 2” to 3.5”x 2.5”

Group 2:These larger, more complex specimens have much larger elbaite inclusions. The pink elbaite is translucent and more intensely colored; elbaite is present in the milky-quartz matrix as both radiating aggregates of long prisms and as bands of massive elbaite. Many of the elbaite prisms and bands extend the length of quartz matrix.  Specimen sizes: 3.5”x 2” to 4”x 3’

Group 3: These specimens are the most complex and have the largest elbaite prisms, many of which are sub-transparent have a pale-pink color. Some of these large elbaite prisms measure three inches in length and three-quarters of an inch in width.  Most of these specimens also have prisms of green tourmaline side-by-side with the pink prisms to provide a very unusual color contrast that produces fine display pieces. Specimen sizes: 4.5” x 3” to 6.5”x 3”

NOTE: Many of the specimens in all 3 groups have prisms of green or black elbaite mixed in with the pink elbaite. Some specimens are solely comprised of the pink elbaite in the white quartz matrix. If you have a preference, please let us know when placing your order.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

DISCOUNTS AVAILBLE: If you order 4 or more minerals from the platinum letter or offer sheet, you will receive a 10% discount.

ORDERING: To place an order or if you have any questions, please email me at Christine@mineralofthemonthclub.org or call at #800-941-5594.

SHIPPING:As always, shipping is free in the United States.

SPECIMEN SIZES: All of our specimens are approximate in size.

METHOD OF PAYMENT:We accept, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and checks.