TOURMALINE, variety RUBELLITE on Quartz. Three, translucent crystals with cranberry red color. Luster is vitreous. Sides are striated. The longest crystal is 1.2 inches in length. From the famous Cruzeiro Mine in Brazil.

This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

RUBELLITE is the red, lithium-rich variety of the Tourmaline group. It is a sodium, lithium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. 

Location: Cruzeiro mine, São José da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Cruzeiro Mine is one of the most important gem and specimen mines in the world. It has been mined for tourmalines and other mineral specimens since the 1950’s. There are at least five distinct pegmatites worked in the mine.

Specimen size: 1.8 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches

Specimen weight: 15 grams (0.5 ounces)

TOURMALINE, variety RUBELLITE. Single, translucent crystal with cranberry red color. One end is terminated. Luster is vitreous. Sides are striated. The crystal is 1.9 inches in length. Pictures show with and without a light on the side to illustrate the translucency. From the famous Cruzeiro Mine in Brazil.

This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

RUBELLITE is the red, lithium-rich variety of the Tourmaline group. It is a sodium, lithium, aluminum, boro-silicate mineral. The crystal system is Trigonal. Hardness is 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. 

Location: Cruzeiro mine, São José da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Cruzeiro Mine is one of the most important gem and specimen mines in the world. It has been mined for tourmalines and other mineral specimens since the 1950’s. There are at least five distinct pegmatites worked in the mine.

Specimen size: 1.9 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches

Specimen weight: 14.5 grams (0.5 ounces)

ELBAITE crystal with a blue INDICOLITE cap. The blue cap is translucent. Luster is vitreous. The crystal is 1.0 inch in length. Albite is the small white spot on the crystal. This specimen is thumbnail size. ELBAITE is a member of the Tourmaline group. INDICOLITE is the blue variety of Elbaite.

Two blue, translucent TOURMALINE, variety ELBAITE, crystals with pink LEPIDOLITE Mica from the famous Cruzeiro mine in Brazil. Minor white Calcite. Luster is vitreous. The longest crystal is 1.2 inches. This specimen is thumbnail size as it fits in a 1.25 inch perky box. Pictures are with and without a direct light on the side of the crystals to show the blue color and translucency.