Lawrence Riaz travelled to the Gemfields of Afghanistan in 2023 for Rocks and Things and sourced this natural Blue Tourmaline crystal. It appears to be on a marble/dolomite matrix.
Blue Tourmalines is a striking member of the Elbaite mineral family. Blue and Green Elbaite crystals are often pleochroic, which means that the crystal appears darker in colour when viewed along its vertical axis, compared to viewing along its horizontal axis. Elbaite is an igneous mineral that almost always forms in granite pegmatites. It is a complex lithium-rich borosilicate mineral. Elbaite usually forms as heavily-striated elongated rods or prismatic crystals. Elbaite can be any colour of the rainbow, and crystals can be multi-coloured. Black is rare.
Location: Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, Pakistan, US
