Tourmaline, Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Size: 7.9x2.0x1.7 cm
Weight: 51.2 grams
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Description: This specimen is one of my favorites. I don’t tend to hold onto many pieces, but this one is particularly sentimental to me because it comes from the collection of my good friend, Mark Cross, and because Congo tourmalines were among the first significant lots I purchased as a new dealer. When I got the first Congo tourmaline lot I made the decision to sell off a large number of pieces, not keeping anything outside of 2 specimens. One was a small gem crystal of teal color that I had made into a necklace for my wife as a thank you for trusting me with our savings that she allowed me to invest into my mineral business to buy this lot. The second specimens was a teal and red miniature which was my poster rock that year 2022. Years later I was able to get this larger piece through Mark and made the personal decision to hold onto it. The color is magnificent grading from blue to green along the specimen and is simply one of my favorite styles from here. The quality is very good with excellent translucency.
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. Now in the Dan Zellner Collection.
Please note I am merely posting this to show the wonderful quality of what has come from Rubaya.
ID: 27311
Size: 7.9x2.0x1.7 cm
Weight: 51.2 grams
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Description: This specimen is one of my favorites. I don’t tend to hold onto many pieces, but this one is particularly sentimental to me because it comes from the collection of my good friend, Mark Cross, and because Congo tourmalines were among the first significant lots I purchased as a new dealer. When I got the first Congo tourmaline lot I made the decision to sell off a large number of pieces, not keeping anything outside of 2 specimens. One was a small gem crystal of teal color that I had made into a necklace for my wife as a thank you for trusting me with our savings that she allowed me to invest into my mineral business to buy this lot. The second specimens was a teal and red miniature which was my poster rock that year 2022. Years later I was able to get this larger piece through Mark and made the personal decision to hold onto it. The color is magnificent grading from blue to green along the specimen and is simply one of my favorite styles from here. The quality is very good with excellent translucency.
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. Now in the Dan Zellner Collection.
Please note I am merely posting this to show the wonderful quality of what has come from Rubaya.
ID: 27311
Size: 7.9x2.0x1.7 cm
Weight: 51.2 grams
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Rubaya, Bahunde, Masisi Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
Description: This specimen is one of my favorites. I don’t tend to hold onto many pieces, but this one is particularly sentimental to me because it comes from the collection of my good friend, Mark Cross, and because Congo tourmalines were among the first significant lots I purchased as a new dealer. When I got the first Congo tourmaline lot I made the decision to sell off a large number of pieces, not keeping anything outside of 2 specimens. One was a small gem crystal of teal color that I had made into a necklace for my wife as a thank you for trusting me with our savings that she allowed me to invest into my mineral business to buy this lot. The second specimens was a teal and red miniature which was my poster rock that year 2022. Years later I was able to get this larger piece through Mark and made the personal decision to hold onto it. The color is magnificent grading from blue to green along the specimen and is simply one of my favorite styles from here. The quality is very good with excellent translucency.
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. Now in the Dan Zellner Collection.
Please note I am merely posting this to show the wonderful quality of what has come from Rubaya.
ID: 27311
