Aquamarine and Black Tourmaline (Schorl)

Aquamarine, which has been known since antiquity, was recognized as a variety of beryl in 1797. The name “aquamarine,” pronounced ahh-kwa-mar-REEN, stems from the Latin aqua marina, literally meaning “sea water,” in allusion to its blue and greenish-blue colors. Important collecting localities are in Namibia, Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Madagascar, Malawi, and the United States (Colorado, Maine, California).

Schorl, the most abundant member of the tourmaline-mineral group, occurs primarily in granite pegmatites with quartz, albite, and the tourmaline-group mineral elbaite. Schorl is widely collected for its jet-black color, vitreous luster, excellent crystal development, and long, striated prisms. It is especially popular as composite specimens in association with white albite and other pegmatite minerals. Schorl, pronounced SHORL, has been known since antiquity and was named in the 13th century after the German mining town of Zschorlau, where it was occurred in quantity in the local tine mines. Important sources are located in Brazil, Pakistan, Germany, Madagascar, Canada, Mexico, and the United States (California, Maine, New Hampshire, Colorado) It is aka black tourmaline and Aphrizite.

Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix
Item # 1AQUASCH03209595

Beryl var Aquamarine and Schorl on matrix

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Here's an excellent multi crystal formation of Aquamarine (variety of Beryl) and Black Tourmaline (Schorl) aka Aphrizite in a matrix of Albite, Quartz and Mica from Afganistan. This is from our personal collection It has several nicely formed light blue-green Aquamarine crystals with the largest measuring 23 x 11 x 9mm with one end flat basal pinacoid terminated. There are also several Schrol crystals, the largest one measures 30 x 14 x 12mm and is nicely terminated.

this specimen weighs 3.28 oz or 0.2 lbs (93g) and measures 2.5 x 1.7 x 1.7 inches (6.4 x 4.3 x 4.3cm)