Elbaite Tourmaline on Quartz with Cleavelandite

This locality—active only for a brief window in the early 2000s—yielded some of the finest large-format tourmaline specimens to reach the market in the last several decades. This example is a quintessential product of that production: a superb, upright, gem-quality tourmaline crystal dominating the composition with striking vertical presence. Expertly positioned atop a well-prepared shard of crystallized quartz, the primary crystal rises with dramatic elegance, complemented by a delicate frosting of sparkling, sugar-white cleavelandite that provides an ideal visual counterpoint. As is typical for pieces of this size and slender morphology from the mine—and indeed from most localities producing comparable tourmalines—a small number of professional repairs are present. They are, however, minimal, structurally sound, and entirely within expectations for a specimen of this scale. The central crystal measures just under 10 inches in height and displays a vibrant evergreen coloration that ignites with even the faintest backlighting. The internal glow and clarity are particularly striking. This specimen was a long-held reserve piece, retained in the personal collection of two mine partners since the time of extraction and never released during the initial production period. Its emergence onto the market is therefore noteworthy. Overall, it is a commanding, dramatic, and aesthetically powerful tourmaline specimen of exhibition caliber.