Tourmaline (multi-color) on Topaz (rare combo) (ex Dave Bergman Collection)

Item Description

Here we have a rarely seen association specimen from Stak Nala featuring a multi-colored Tourmaline on Topaz. Most of the Tourmalines you'll see from this locality are associated with either Quartz or Albite, and I can only remember seeing a few growing DIRECTLY ON a Topaz crystal like this. The piece features a fine, sharp, lustrous Tourmaline crystal with an "Achroite" (colorless") pyramidal termination that grades into a vibrant green hue, then into a very dark brownish-green / black zone throughout the rest of the prism, which is smartly set on a colorless, sharp, gemmy, lustrous Topaz crystal. No major damage, save the base where it detached from the pocket wall It's a far cry from your typical Stak Nala specimen you would be hard-pressed to find another like it. The piece was mined in the late 1980s / early 1990s, and very little like it has been found since. Valued at $750 retail. A wonderful toenail specimen from the most famous Tourmaline locality in Pakistan. Ex Dave Bergman Collection. Dave is a Colorado miner (formerly the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s) and the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures". The piece was given to Dave as a gift by his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar and the hand-written label from Kosnar accompanies the piece.