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Cranberry Crown
Specimen | Catalog Number | Locality | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Cranberry Crown | NMNH 176816 | Brazil, Minas Gerais |
The Pederneira Mine in Brazil has produced some of the world's most spectacular tourmaline specimens and is legendary because of the large crystals in many varied colors. Mining began in the 1940s, but it was the production from the 1990s that stunned the collector world. The Smithsonian acquired one of these classic specimens - known as the "Porcupine"- with stunning long slender blue-green crystals. The SGC Cranberry Crown, shown here, displays a similar crystal habit, but the crystals are brilliant reddish-pink. This specimen was acquired for the Collection by the Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Collectors Group. The two contrasting specimens, the Porcupine and the SGC Cranberry Crown, illustrate the amazing variety from pocket to pocket within the same mine.