{"product_id":"blue-indicolite-tourmaline-on-matrix-from-nuristan-afghanistan","title":"Blue Indicolite Tourmaline on Matrix — Nuristan, Afghanistan Specimen","description":"\u003cp\u003eNuristan is one of the great tourmaline localities, and this is what a Nuristan piece looks like when it comes out complete: blue indicolite tourmaline still sitting on its matrix of quartz and muscovite, undisturbed, exactly as it was taken from the pocket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFive inches across and 746 grams. On-matrix specimens are valued above loose crystals precisely because so few survive extraction intact — the association tells you where the crystal grew and what it grew alongside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37\"\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlue indicolite tourmaline on matrix\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWith quartz and muscovite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Nuristan, Afghanistan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5\" x 4\" x 3\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e746 grams\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips within 3 business days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37\"\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDisplay it as a specimen, not as decor — on a shelf at eye level where the association between tourmaline, quartz, and mica is readable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSide lighting will separate the three minerals. Overhead light tends to wash the muscovite out entirely.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHandle it by the matrix, never by the tourmaline crystal. Do not clean it with anything wet — mica flakes lift and never sit back down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37\"\u003eReading the specimen\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #2c3a37\"\u003eMineral\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #2c3a37\"\u003eWhat to look for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #ddd\"\u003eIndicolite tourmaline\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #ddd\"\u003eBlue prismatic crystal, striated along its length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #ddd\"\u003eQuartz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #ddd\"\u003eClear to white, the bulk of the matrix\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #ddd\"\u003eMuscovite\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #ddd\"\u003eSilvery mica, flat reflective flakes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,#000D0B,#40514E);color:#f4f1ea;padding:24px;border-radius:10px;margin:28px 0\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#c9a96e;margin:0 0 10px\"\u003e✨ Temple Tip\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0\"\u003eNever wash a mica-bearing specimen. Muscovite flakes lift with water and will not lie back down — dry air from a bulb blower is the only cleaning a piece like this should ever get.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37\"\u003eQuestions \u0026amp; answers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat minerals are present?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlue indicolite tourmaline with quartz and muscovite.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the dimensions?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003e5 by 4 by 3 inches, weighing 746 grams.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is it from?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eNuristan, Afghanistan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does 'on matrix' mean?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe crystal is still attached to the host rock it grew on, rather than having been removed and sold loose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow should I clean it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eDry air only. Water will damage the muscovite mica.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What minerals are present?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Blue indicolite tourmaline with quartz and muscovite.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What are the dimensions?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"5 by 4 by 3 inches, weighing 746 grams.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Where is it from?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Nuristan, Afghanistan.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What does 'on matrix' mean?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The crystal is still attached to the host rock it grew on, rather than having been removed and sold loose.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How should I clean it?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Dry air only. Water will damage the muscovite mica.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTaken from the pocket whole, and left that way.\u003c\/em\u003e #TempleOfDesire\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rare Earth Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54415409348945,"sku":"7460","price":919.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1063\/0194\/8241\/files\/IMG_20250126_163631_03.jpg?v=1785093230","url":"https:\/\/www.templeofdesire.com\/products\/blue-indicolite-tourmaline-on-matrix-from-nuristan-afghanistan","provider":"Temple of Desire","version":"1.0","type":"link"}