Tourmaline – dark elongate prism on white matrix, Pakistan, 95 g

Description

This compact specimen presents a single dark, elongate prismatic tourmaline crystal with layered, striated surfaces set on a pale white matrix, accompanied by several lighter translucent tourmaline crystals. The main crystal runs parallel to the longest dimension and displays the typical prismatic habit associated with tourmaline. The piece measures 6 × 4.5 × 3.5 cm and weighs 95 g; it was photographed on a clear acrylic stand. Surfaces of the dark prism show the characteristic longitudinal striations, while the attached lighter crystals are noticeably more translucent against the matrix. Tourmaline is a borosilicate mineral group that commonly forms elongated prismatic crystals in pegmatites and metamorphic rocks; the combination of dark and lighter tourmaline crystals on a pale matrix is a familiar occurrence for specimens from Pakistan.