At a glance
-
Watermelon tourmaline on albite matrix — crystal still on host rock
- 1.75" x 1" x 2.25"
-
52 g total
- From Brazil
- Ships within 3 business days
How to use it
Display it at an angle that shows both the tourmaline and the matrix. The instinct with matrix specimens is to turn the crystal square to the viewer, but the relationship between the two — how the tourmaline sits in the albite — is what distinguishes this from a loose crystal, and it reads best from three-quarters on.
Handle it by the matrix, never by the crystal. Tourmaline is brittle across its length and the point where it meets the host rock is the weakest part of the whole specimen. A small display stand or a padded base takes the strain off that junction.
Specifications
| Detail |
This piece |
| Crystal |
Watermelon tourmaline (elbaite) |
| Matrix |
Albite feldspar |
| Dimensions |
1.75" x 1" x 2.25" |
| Weight |
52 g |
| Origin |
Brazil |
| Listing |
The specific piece pictured |
✨ Temple Tip
Never lift a matrix specimen by the crystal. It is the single most common way collector pieces are damaged — the tourmaline feels solid, but the join to the albite is the weak point, and it separates cleanly and permanently. Always take the weight under the rock.
Questions we get asked
What is albite?
A white sodium feldspar, one of the common matrix minerals in the granite pegmatites that produce gem tourmaline. Its brightness is why it makes such a good backdrop for pink and green elbaite.
Why buy tourmaline on matrix rather than loose?
Matrix shows the crystal in the association it actually formed in, which is a more complete mineralogical object — and intact matrix specimens are harder to recover from a pocket than loose crystals, so they are less common.
Is the weight 51 or 52 grams?
The supplier's product title says 51 g and their specification says 52 g. We have used 52 g throughout because that is the figure in the detailed description, but treat it as approximate to within a gram.
Has it been repaired or glued?
Nothing in the supplier's description mentions repair, and we will not state either way beyond what they provide. If a confirmed no-repair declaration matters for your collection, ask us and we will put the question to them.
How should I store it?
On a stand or a padded base, supported under the matrix, somewhere it will not be knocked. Dust with a soft dry brush; no ultrasonic cleaning.
Crystal and host rock, still together — the way it came out of the pocket.
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