Tourmaline, Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Size: 5.0x1.6x1.4 cm
Weight: 17.43 grams
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Description: This specimen is one of my favorite styles from the Rubaya tourmalines. The color is magnificent grading from blue to green along the specimen. The complex termination is sharp and glassy. The quality is very good with excellent translucency. I note one edge that is chewed a bit on the back side of the sepcimen.
For the past several decades the Congo has produced tourmalines from a number of localities (Laurs et al., 2004, Henn, 2010; Laurs 2015). Usually, these specimens were from weathered deposits produced as by products industrial mineral mining and were not of gem quality (The Journal of Gemology Volume 35 / No. 8 / 2017). Recently in the past several years there has been a concerted effort to specifically mine gem grade specimens in areas such as the Rubaya Pegmatite District. In my humble opinion Rubaya has produced some of the finest contemporary tourmalines in the past few decades. They have become increasingly difficult to obtain as good quality specimens over the past several years. Ex Mark Cross Collection and Photo.
ID: 27312
Size: 5.0x1.6x1.4 cm
Weight: 17.43 grams
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Description: This specimen is one of my favorite styles from the Rubaya tourmalines. The color is magnificent grading from blue to green along the specimen. The complex termination is sharp and glassy. The quality is very good with excellent translucency. I note one edge that is chewed a bit on the back side of the sepcimen.
For the past several decades the Congo has produced tourmalines from a number of localities (Laurs et al., 2004, Henn, 2010; Laurs 2015). Usually, these specimens were from weathered deposits produced as by products industrial mineral mining and were not of gem quality (The Journal of Gemology Volume 35 / No. 8 / 2017). Recently in the past several years there has been a concerted effort to specifically mine gem grade specimens in areas such as the Rubaya Pegmatite District. In my humble opinion Rubaya has produced some of the finest contemporary tourmalines in the past few decades. They have become increasingly difficult to obtain as good quality specimens over the past several years. Ex Mark Cross Collection and Photo.
ID: 27312
Size: 5.0x1.6x1.4 cm
Weight: 17.43 grams
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Description: This specimen is one of my favorite styles from the Rubaya tourmalines. The color is magnificent grading from blue to green along the specimen. The complex termination is sharp and glassy. The quality is very good with excellent translucency. I note one edge that is chewed a bit on the back side of the sepcimen.
For the past several decades the Congo has produced tourmalines from a number of localities (Laurs et al., 2004, Henn, 2010; Laurs 2015). Usually, these specimens were from weathered deposits produced as by products industrial mineral mining and were not of gem quality (The Journal of Gemology Volume 35 / No. 8 / 2017). Recently in the past several years there has been a concerted effort to specifically mine gem grade specimens in areas such as the Rubaya Pegmatite District. In my humble opinion Rubaya has produced some of the finest contemporary tourmalines in the past few decades. They have become increasingly difficult to obtain as good quality specimens over the past several years. Ex Mark Cross Collection and Photo.
ID: 27312
