Size: 4.3x2.4x2.4 cm
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Sapo mine, Ferruginha, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Description: Blue Cap Sapo tourmalines have acquired an almost mythical status over the years with mineral collectors worldwide. This find of blue, yellow, and pink tourmaline from 1998 is easily recognizable by its signature color pallet. Steve Ulatowski was the man in Brazil when these specimens were discovered and he secured a deal to purchase almost the entire production. He has a wonderful write up online about this find. I did show him this specimen to confirm that it is indeed a true 1998 Sapo, which he was able to confirm. According to Steve there was a limited amount of specimens that were found that weighed over 30grams. This specimen does have professional chip repairs on the termination. This was done by the premiere professional American mineral preparation laboratory. According to Steve many of these specimens damaged because when they were being collected they were thrown in to sacks after bring collected. Hearing about miners snapping “sticks” off of matrix to avoid the weight of the quartz crystals they were arranged on is enough to make any mineral collector flinch. A huge thanks to Steve for taking time to recount to me so many details about this famous find.
ID: 26859
Size: 4.3x2.4x2.4 cm
Species: Tourmaline
Locality: Sapo mine, Ferruginha, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Description: Blue Cap Sapo tourmalines have acquired an almost mythical status over the years with mineral collectors worldwide. This find of blue, yellow, and pink tourmaline from 1998 is easily recognizable by its signature color pallet. Steve Ulatowski was the man in Brazil when these specimens were discovered and he secured a deal to purchase almost the entire production. He has a wonderful write up online about this find. I did show him this specimen to confirm that it is indeed a true 1998 Sapo, which he was able to confirm. According to Steve there was a limited amount of specimens that were found that weighed over 30grams. This specimen does have professional chip repairs on the termination. This was done by the premiere professional American mineral preparation laboratory. According to Steve many of these specimens damaged because when they were being collected they were thrown in to sacks after bring collected. Hearing about miners snapping “sticks” off of matrix to avoid the weight of the quartz crystals they were arranged on is enough to make any mineral collector flinch. A huge thanks to Steve for taking time to recount to me so many details about this famous find.
ID: 26859
