tourmalines - the Proctor Family Trust Collection Website

THE GEM SILICATE FAMILY OF SPECIES WHICH COULD BE CUT FOR JEWELRY (SYMBOL - GS):
INCLUDES THE TOURMALINE, BERYL, TOPAZ, KUNZITE, TANZANITE, AND GARNET SPECIES =
NOT INCLUDING THE QUARTZ VARIETIES OR OTHER NON-GEM SILICATES SPECIES (SYMBOL NGS)
TOURMALINES: RED, GREEN, BI-COLOR, THREE AND FOUR
COLORS, WATERMELONS, AND SCHORL (BLACK)
Tourmaline is unique among gem species because of its variety of colors caused by the complex sodium, lithium,
aluminum, boron silicate molecule (with four metal elements), which often contains two or three additional metal
elements as impurities trapped in the crystal lattice: Iron with both +2 and +3 valences (combining powers) that produce
the green and blue colors; manganese, which produces the pinks and reds; and copper which rarely produces the electric
greens and blues of so-called Paraiba, Brazil Tourmaline. The black schorl crystals (another Tourmaline variety: see
GS-TOUR-22) contain no lithium. In fact, all colorful and cuttable gem Tourmalines must contain the metal lithium or
they are mere black schorls.
GS-TOUR-1. TOURMALINE –
RARE BLUE AND RED SINGLE
CRYSTAL – BARRA DE
SALINAS MINE, M. G., BRAZIL:
This is the rarest, most beautiful and
important multicolored (blue and
red) single gem Tourmaline crystal
found in Brazil since the 1960s.
Why so important? Because gem
blue and red colors rarely occur
together. The Proctors have only
seen three fine examples (all from
the Barra de Salinas mine) in 40
years of collecting.
Everyone would love to see one of
these multicolored, gem-cuttable
Tourmalines on a matrix host rock
like Quartz or feldspar, but this
would be the rarest occurrence in
the gem kingdom because the gem
packets decomposed over 420
million years ago – so, the gem
crystals are virtually always found
as loose crystals.
This 3.5” tall by 2” wide specimen
was featured in the Mark Weill
Collection supplement to the
Mineralogical Record magazine:
January-February 2008 issue, p. 52.
-Jeff Scovil photograph
1
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-2. (right) TOURMALINE – RED =
RUBELLITE GEM CRYSTAL – MOZAMBIQUE:
This is one of the finest and reddest cuttable (rubellite)
gem Tourmalines ever found, and it was unearthed at
the famous Alto Ligonha Concessions in Mozambique
over 50 years ago. No equally large, cuttable gem red
crystals have been found since from any worldwide
location - except at the Jonas mine in Brazil, which
produced cranberry red rubellite crystals, instead of this
deep, rich, red color. This gem crystal measures 1.3”
wide and 2.75” long.
-Joe Budd photograph
GS-TOUR-3. (above, left) TOURMALINE – RICH RED, RUBELLITE GEM CRYSTAL - JOS, NIGERIA: This
unique gem pegmatite area in Africa produced only a few superb cuttable red Tourmalines. Specimen measures 2.25” by
7/8”. -Jeff Scovil photograph
2
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-6. (below left) TOURMALINE – TRI-COLOR – GREEN, ROSE AND BLUE GREEN – BARRA DE
SALINAS MINE: The world famous Barra (pronounced Baha) de Salinas mine in Brazil produced this beautiful and
rare tri-color cuttable gem crystal in the 1980s. This 3.75” long crystal has a very pleasing and subtle gradual color
grading from one color to another instead of sharp lines of demarcation like most of the other gem crystals shown in this
section, which indicates the solution containing either iron or manganese changed gradually and not abruptly. Acquired
from the Dr. Steve Smale collection, now in Hong Kong, China.
GS-TOUR-7. (middle) TOURMALINE – TRI-COLORED GEM CRYSTAL – CRUZEIRO MINE, APRIL 1994
FIND: One or two pockets of superb, gemmy tri-color tourmalines (green on the bottom, colorless [acroite] in the center
and hot pink on the top) were a one-time find in April 1994 at the Cruzeiro (the cross) mine in Brazil, the world’s largest
tourmaline mine. This signature color combination was found there and nowhere else. This 4.25” long gem crystal is
one of the two or three most perfect examples from this find. Most Tourmalines form from the bottom up to the tip.
The colorless layer indicates that the hot pink top layer (manganese rich) completed formation only after the metal
manganese became available in the pocket, and after the green bottom (iron +2 and +3 electrical charged rich layer)
completed forming. There was a short time when no iron or manganese impurities were present in the pocket, thus
forming this colorless layer. The geochemists present no sure idea how fast these gem crystals grew or what the time
lapse was between each colored layer formation. It is mind-numbing to realize that these gem crystals from Brazil were
formed approximately 420 million years ago. In both Tourmalines #6 and #7, the iron rich tourmaline solution providing green - was sucked up at different times: first in Tourmaline #6 and last in Tourmaline #7. This color
deposition sequence mystery drives a geochemist nuts! At the bottom and behind Tourmaline #7 an unusual, flat, thin
complete tourmaline was formed. If we are observant, we can usually determine that each crystal and each matrix has
its own story of formation, telling its own provenance. This specimen is much gemmier than the photo shows.
GS-TOUR-4.
TOURMALINE – GREEN GEM
CRYSTAL - PEDERNEIRA
MINE - M.G. BRAZIL: The
famous Pederneira mine (along
with the Jonas mine) is noted for
producing Brazil’s finest large
matrix, gem-cuttable Tourmaline
specimens (see GS-TOUR-13).
Only a few small pockets at this
Pederneira mine produced the
finest single, gem-cuttable green
crystals ever seen. This superb
flawless 3.75” long crystal is
among the best surviving crystals.
The multicolored gem tourmalines
pictured on the following pages
demonstrate why tourmaline
crystals are among the most
popular of all collector species,
and why Brazil is called The
Paradise of Gems. In fact, many
collectors amass cut gemstones
and natural crystals of the same
color and species into so-called
Rough and Cut collections.
-Joe Budd photograph
GS-TOUR-6 –Jeff Scovil photo GS-TOUR-7 –Joe Budd photo
3
TOURMALINE (continued)
TOURMALINE – FOUR AND FIVE COLOR CRYSTALS – CRUZEIRO MINE – OCTOBER, 1996 FIND:
FIND
These crystals are from the famous October “96” find at th
the amazing Cruzeiro (cross) mine, which is
i the world’s largest
Tourmaline mine. It takes both crystals to adequately represent the vario
various colors and color banding of the crystals
found there. Only a handful off double crystals like specime
specimen GS-TOUR-10 were found. Had this quality
qual of
multicolored crystals ever been found on an attractive matrix
matrix, it would be shocking,
king, but this never happened. All
A the
Tourmaline crystals seen so far are classics for this unique gem species.
GS-TOUR-10. FIRST CRYSTAL (below left
left) – DOUBLE CRYSTAL: Here we see a gem crystal, 3”
3 long, with a
green bottom: then moving up to pink, and then aanother narrow green band on both crystals, and finally
fi
finishing off
with a red top. This is an unusual and very beautiful four-color gem crystal acquired from the Stuart Wilensky
Wil
collection. How does one explain that the banding sequence is identical on both cry
crystals
stals and yet the crystals are
different lengths?
GS-TOUR-11.
11. SECOND CRYSTAL (below right) – A RARE FIVE COLOR CRYSTAL: This stunning 3.5” long,
five- color crystal starts with a manganese rich red on the bottom; then a good iron rich green section above; then a rich
pink section, then a thin band of green, and finishing with a red tip. The Tourmaline
ourmaline solution that formed this crystal
changed composition five times. The manganese metal ions/atoms form
rm the reds and pinks, and the iron
i
(Fe+2,
+3
and Fe ) ions cause the greens and bluess. Brazilian miners call these multicolored Tourmalines
ourmalines rainbow stones
or parrot crystals (after the Brazilian Macaw). This crystal is much gemmier than shown
n in this photo.
-Joe Budd photographs
GS-TOUR-10
GS-TOUR
TOUR-11
4
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-12. MULTICOLORED TOURMALINES ON A WHITE FELDSPAR MATRIX - FROM ONE SMALL
AREA OF THE PEDERNEIRA MINE, BRAZIL: Here we see rare multicolored Tourmaline crystals on matrix, one of
which (back on the right side) displays an outrageous red watermelon color consisting of a bright red (manganese rich)
core surrounded by a green sheath. The rest of the crystals on this masterpiece of composition display red bottoms
grading into a delicate green with pink tips. The metal manganese present in this pocket was taken up first to form the
red bottom and then the iron ions/atoms were used to produce the greens, and finally more manganese was used to make
the pink tips. The mystery is this: “Why wasn’t all the manganese used up at the beginning? Why was some
saved to produce the pink tips?” It is almost as if its creator had a conversation saying… “Since manganese is
present, we have to start out with that to make the red bottoms, and then we can use the iron atoms to color the
green middle. It would be pretty if we saved some manganese to use at the very end to make pink tips.” The
incomplete crystal pointing towards the viewer shows the red core and green rind of the watermelon crystal.
Photograph published in Mineralogical Record magazine Jan/Feb 2015 issue: page 69 (figure 132). Specimen measures
7” tall by 3.75” wide.
-Jeff Scovil photograph
5
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-13. TOURMALINE – GEM GREEN CRYSTALS ON CLEAR QUARTZ CRYSTALS: Because of the
green crystal’s gemminess and the perfection of the Quartz crystals,
this specimen is one of the great green Tourmaline masterpieces.
Their arrangement perched on the magnificent Quartz crystals is
stunning. As with the previous specimen, it was harvested years
ago from the Pederneira mine, which along with the Jonas mine is
one of the two greatest of all Tourmaline mines for producing
superb gem crystal matrix specimens. Photograph published in
Mineralogical Record magazine Jan/Feb 2015 issue: page 100
(figure 192). Specimen measures 8” tall, 6.5” wide with the
longest tourmaline crystal being 5.5” long. -Jeff Scovil photo
GS-TOUR-14. (left) TOURMALINE – TEN, GEM, BLUE GREEN
PENCIL TOURMALINE CRYSTALS ON A TALL QUARTZ
CRYSTAL– ESCONDIDO MINE, M.G., BRAZIL: Which
crystallized first, the Tourmalines or the Quartz; or did they
crystallize simultaneously? Some of these gem crystals are doubly
terminated. How does the fact that some of the Tourmalines are
attached in the middle and are intergrown into the side of a
Quartz crystal affect our analysis of the crystallography
sequence? Found and acquired about 1997. Specimen measures
3” tall and 3” wide.
-Jeff Scovil photograph
6
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-15. TOURMALINE – THREE COLOR CRYSTALS ON QUARTZ WITH WHITE ALBITE FELDSPAR
CRYSTALS – PAPROC AREA, AFGHANISTAN: Rarely have fine, matrix multicolored TOURMALINES from
Paproc been found. This series of small pegmatite pockets – one of the greatest discoveries – produced only five or six
superb specimens. The biggest specimen was sold by Collector’s Edge in Golden, Colorado to the Houston Museum of
Nature and Science for more than $1 million. The Proctors saw virtually all of them; and for color, form, composition
and perfection with a superb Quartz matrix– this specimen is one of the two best. It displays stunningly beautiful
composition that any connoisseur collector would marvel over. Specimen measures 6” wide by 5.5” tall.
-Brian Swoboda photograph
7
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-17
GS-TOUR-16. TOURMALINE ON A TOURMALINE MATRIX - RARE SALMON COLORED – CORONEL
MURTA MINE, NEAR CORONEL MURTA CITY, M.G., BRAZIL: We see here another masterpiece (Van Gogh) of
the gem kingdom. Why? Both presentation and the fact that one of the two rarest colors (salmon and blue/indicolite) of
gem Tourmalines is featured on this specimen. Specimen measures 4” by 5.25”.
–James Elliott photograph
GS-TOUR-17. (above right) TOURMALINE – PALE BLUE INDICOLITE PLUS A WATERMELON CRYSTAL ON
THE SAME MATRIX SPECIMEN – PEDERNEIRA MINE, M.G., BRAZIL: It is exceedingly rare to see these two
color combinations on the same matrix. Specimen measures 3.25” long by 1 5/8” wide. –Jeff Scovil photograph
8
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-18. BLUE TOURMALINE ON A
LAVENDER COLORED LEPIDOLITE MICA
MATRIX - WITH QUARTZ - FROM THE
SMALL MAWI MINE, AFGHANISTAN: Here
we view one of the great matrix Tourmalines from
the war-torn country of Afghanistan (in the
Laghman province). This mine was famous for its
loose (no matrix) single blue crystals, all of which
were cut into fine gemstones, which yielded a much
darker blue color than seen here because they were
cut with the flat table of the gemstone perpendicular
(not parallel) to the length of the crystal (the Caxis). This was the only matrix specimen found,
and it survived the crystal cutters because it was
both unique and beautiful. It was purchased at the
mine by the agent of a European crystal collector
from whom the Proctors acquired this specimen.
Please compare this blue Tourmaline to the other,
(completely different in color deposition) Afghan
Tourmaline (GS-TOUR-15), because it displays
several three color crystals (none of which are
blue), on a large smoky quartz crystal. These three
colors along with this blue specimen represent the
most popular colors of this most unique gem crystal
species Tourmaline. Specimen measures 5” high by
4” wide; Tourmaline 2.5” long.
-Jeff Scovil photographs
The pink and red colors of Tourmaline are caused by
impurities of the metal manganese, whereas the green colors
are caused by the metal iron (Fe+2 or Fe+3), and the blue
colors are caused by an unknown mixture of iron atoms =
Fe+2 or Fe+3. It is not known what causes the extremely rare
salmon colors as seen in one 5” brilliant crystal – on matrix
– seen previously in this suite of matrix Tourmalines.
9
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-19. TOURMALINE/GREEN ON A RARE, DOUBLY
TERMINATED, FLOATER QUARTZ CRYSTAL - CRUZEIRO MINE,
NEAR SAO JOSE DA SAFIRA CITY, DOCE VALLEY, M.G. BRAZIL: A
perfect water clear colorless, transparent, double terminated quartz crystal that
is a floater with no point of contact. This crystal is studded with two prismatic
crystal groupings of terminated green Tourmaline - the larger 1.8” in length.
Specimen measures 3.5” x 2” x 1.5” in size overall - and is complete all
around. The Tourmaline crystal groupings are double terminated; the longer
one with tiny acicular Tourmaline crystals making up the termination. This is a
neat and showy, small cabinet combination piece with the great composition
we can marvel over – as with most Proctor specimens. Ex Lloyd Tate
collection.
-Dan Weinrich photograph
GS-TOUR-20. (left) DOUBLY TERMINATED – BI-COLOR GEM
TOURMALINE ON QUARTZ: From the Escondido mine, Minas Gerais,
Brazil. Specimen measures 2.25” high.
-Jeff Scovil photograph
10
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-21. TOURMALINE - CLUSTER OF WATERMELON CRYSTALS – PINK AND GREEN –
PEDERNEIRA MINE, M.G., BRAZIL: Specimen measures 3.25” high by 2.5” wide.
-Sunnywood photograph
11
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-22.
22. (left) SCHORL
TOURMALINE (BLACK) – ERONGO
MOUNTAINS, NAMIBIA: For aesthetics
this is one of the most beautiful schorl
specimens found anywhere. Schorl is
actually quite uncommon because most
Tourmalines have the metal lithium in their
crystall structure, thus they are colored
crystals; without lithium its structure it is
impossible to form any variety of colored
Tourmalines. In the granite ERONGO
mountains, there are now ten digging
groups of men who rarely find anything.
They look for schorl
schor crystal outcroppings
on the surface and then dig down through
nearly solid granite in deep holes only wide
enough for one digger and a 5” hose (which
must be continuously shaken) to bring
down oxygen. Specimen measures 3” high
by 2.5” wide.
–Jeff Scovil
il photograph
GS-TOUR-23.
23. (right) TOURMALINE ALTERED TO
PINK LEPIDOLITE MICA – BRAZIL PEDERNEIRA
MINE: The surface of these Tourmaline crystals sloughed
off and the Tourmaline underneath completely altered
(nearly 400 million years ago) to pink lepidolit
lepidolite Mica. To
add uniqueness, a single, double terminated Quartz crystal
grew on the front face. This geochemical occurrence is so
rare that in 40 years of collecting, the Proctor’s have seen
only one other specimen, also from this same Pederneira
mine. Technically,
chnically, this specimen should be called a
lepidolite Mica pseudomorph after Tourmaline. Specimen
measures 2.5” tall by 1.5” wide.
-Joe Budd photograph
12
TOURMALINE (continued)
GS-TOUR-24. RUBELLITE TOURMALINE, BURMA:
Why were these 30 small, doubly terminated crystals formed
instead of one or several bigger crystals? Varying
geochemistry involving temperatures and pressures was
involved. These crystals are pink, all with bright red tips.
These crystals were incased in massive albite Feldspar.
Found near the village of Male, Burma. This unique
specimen measures 6” high by 3.25” wide.
-Jeff Scovil photograph
13
GS-TOUR-26. TOURMALINE
– 16” LONG XANDA OR
LIMOEIRO MINE, BRAZIL –
FOUND CIRCA 1976: We see
here possibly the longest, single,
surviving three color, gem
Tourmaline crystal found in
Brazil or any country. It
measures 16” long by 1” wide.
The delicate pink tip grades into
a pleasing and subtle Indicolite
blue (blue, along with the
brilliant salmon color, is the
rarest and most sought after color
of Tourmaline), and the
remainder of this magnificent
crystal is a gem – cuttable fine
green. This amazing crystal is
terminated at both ends (D.T.).
No museum or collector worldwide has a crystal like this. It
was discovered about 1976 at
either the Limoeiro or Xanda
(pronounced Shanda) mine near
the city of Virgem da Lapa
(virgin of the cave), Minas Gerais
state, Brazil. Brazil has always
produced the world’s best
cuttable gem Tourmalines and
gem Aquamarines, Morganites
and Topaz. Virtually all long
gem Tourmaline crystals were
destroyed by the careless mining
practices of the garimpeiros
(miners) who used dynamite
indiscriminately in their
impatience to extract gem
crystals and their profits.
Also, virtually all other long gem
crystals were immediately
faceted (often at a cutting
operation at the mine site) to
quickly yield profits for the
brokers who bought crystals from
the miners. This immense gem
crystal was saved because it
passed through the hands of three
crystal lovers and collectors – not
gem brokers. This specimen is
slightly restored.
–Joaquim Callén photograph