MSR07 Tourmaline var. Liddicoatite on Smoky Quartz
Sahatany Valley, Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
6.1x 3.6x 2.7 cm
$1350
A double terminated crystal of liddicoatite tourmaline on a double terminated smoky quartz crystal. The specimen is a floater, freed from a decomposed pegmatite with no point of attachment.
Although the tourmaline crystal appears dark, when held to the light it can be seen to be dark greenish-brown and gemmy.
This pocket was found just before I arrived-- there were several of these floater quartz/ liddicoatite combinations found, and I purchased the best examples-- although the pocket produced fewer that 15 specimens, most were damaged during recovery. Although not the largest from the group, I consider this one to be the best-- both the minerals present are double terminated, and it is exceptionally well balanced.
