Unique botryoidal Black Mushroom Tourmaline (SCESP074)

$690.00$700.35

This specimen of unique botryoidal black mushroom tourmaline (SCESP074) features a newly discovered geological formation of Black Tourmaline (Schorl). We discovered it in 2021 in our crystal mining operation in Lima Province, Peru.

Small-cabinet Size: 55 x 35 x 29 mm.

Weight: 69 gr

Origin: Lima, Province, Peru

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Description

Unique botryoidal Black Mushroom Tourmaline (SCESP074)

This specimen of unique botryoidal black mushroom tourmaline (SCESP074) features a newly discovered geological formation of Black Tourmaline (Schorl). We discovered it in 2021 in our crystal mining operation in Lima Province, Peru.

Small-cabinet Size: 55 x 35 x 29 mm.

Weight: 69 gr

Origin: Lima, Province, Peru

Botryoidal growth in tourmaline

Tourmaline occurs usually as an elongated prismatic crystal that is heavily striated. Likewise, it forms short, stubby, prismatic crystals. Many Schorl crystals have a rounded, triangular cross-section and a flattened pyramidal termination. On the contrary, it rarely occurs in tabular crystals. Moreover, aggregates include columnar, radiating, stalactitic, dense groups of acicular needles, and compact masses.

Only the cranberry-red and blueish Mushroom Tourmaline, variety Elbaite, shows a botryoidal growth. It occurs only in Palelni Mine near Khetchel (Khat Che) village in Burma (Myanmar). The word botryoidal comes from the Greek word “botrus”, which literally means a cluster or bunch of grapes. Geologists do use the word “botryoidal” to describe a bubbly rock texture or mineral habit (appearance).

Gemrocks crystal mining

The area in Lima province where Gemrock Peru operates its first crystal mining operation is a skarn area. Most skarns do form when carbonate rocks such as limestone, dolomite stone, or marble are intruded by a magma body with contact metamorphism. Under those circumstances, the magma releases water as it cools. As a result, the water moves through the surrounding rock. It flows or diffuses through pore spaces, fractures, and even the mineral grains that make up the rock. These acidic waters are superheated and supersaturated with dissolved metal ions, especially calcium and silicon. Consequently, as it invades carbonate rock, the hot, acidic, metal-laden water becomes a major agent of change. It dissolves, replaces, recrystallizes, and alters minerals in the rock.

In the case of our crystal mining area, tourmaline crystals do regularly form otherwise rather rare fan-shaped clusters. The individual fans do spread out in different directions toward each other. The discovery of black mushroom tourmaline, however, is an entirely new geological dimension. The mushroom tourmaline appears to grow on a layer of white orthoclase rock. In general, thick layers of fan-shaped epidote crystals do cover the tourmaline. Likewise, a fan-shaped growth in epidote is a rare thing too, only known from a handful of places around the world.

Some of the black mushroom tourmaline specimens appear combined with small quartz crystals. Secondly, some do form on top of the epidote, do cover yellow tourmaline or tubular apatite crystals. On break-off surfaces, one can see that the mushroom shape is due to tourmaline layers that radiate out toward all sides from a central point at the bottom of the crystal. Consequently, the structure looks similar to the one of  fan-shaped epidote crystals.

About Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a crystalline boron silicate mineral, which compounds with elements such as aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline classifies as a semi-precious stone.

Black tourmaline (“Schorl”) is the sodium iron endmember of the group. It may account for 95% or more of all tourmaline in nature. Furthermore, the early history of the mineral schorl shows that the name “schorl” was in use prior to 1400. The name originates from the village “Schorl” (today Zschorlau, in Saxony, Germany). Black tourmaline occurred in the nearby mine of the village.

 

Choose the CARBON-POSITIVE PRICE:

Buy this crystal free of environmental impacts. Help improve the environment:

Gemrock Peru is a global leader spearheading sustainability and environmental conservation in the crystal and gemstone industry. Furthermore, we are now offering you a unique opportunity to take part in our effort. Do eliminate the carbon footprint of your crystal. And then do even better: become carbon-positive. Here is how it works: If you buy this crystal by choosing the “Carbon Positive Price” we will add 1.5 cents per USD to your crystal. We are going to use this additional amount in order to plant trees in a reforestation project in the Peruvian cloud forest. As a result, we do neutralize your crystals’ carbon footprint. Furthermore, you are helping to restore previously destroyed rainforests.

In addition to this, we will match your support. We will reward your conscious act by matching your support with the same amount. This way we are doubling the donation. Therefore we are creating a carbon-positive product that removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it adds to it.

With Gemrock Peru your crystal products have been ethically mined and produced and are environmentally friendly. Also, read our 2021 Sustainability Report.

 

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Regular Price, Carbon Positive Price