Trapiche Chrome-Uvite Tourmaline (Kavungu Mine, Jivunda, Mwinilunga District, North-Western Province, Zambia) - 425_TT3
Free Shipping available - use the code FR33SHIP
Weight: 4.4ct
1.3 × 1.5 × 0.2cm
Locality: Kavungu Mine, Jivunda, Mwinilunga District, North-Western Province, Zambia
Also known as "Mercedes Benz tourmaline", due to the shape of the trapiche-like, graphite inclusions in the core, this trapiche Chrome-Uvite tourmaline comes from the Kavungu mine adjacent to the tiny village of Jivunda.
(Trapiche: from the Spanish for 'mill', which were made of wood and used to extract juices and oils from fruits and olives.)
They were initially mined in 2004, by a commercial mining company that thought they were emerald gems. However, after realising they are tourmalines instead, the mining company pulled out. Ever since, specimens have been recovered by the children from Jivunda - they dig them out by hand, and sell them to passing traders.
Whilst the area is abundant in tourmaline, only 1-2% of all the tourmaline found are euhedral crystals that are suitable for slicing to show the trapiche pattern. For that reason, the trapiche tourmaline is seldom encountered on the international market.
Additionally, these are the first known occurrence of trapiche tourmalines!!!
Market Rate: USD$80 to USD$100/carat
Free Shipping available - use the code FR33SHIP
Weight: 4.4ct
1.3 × 1.5 × 0.2cm
Locality: Kavungu Mine, Jivunda, Mwinilunga District, North-Western Province, Zambia
Also known as "Mercedes Benz tourmaline", due to the shape of the trapiche-like, graphite inclusions in the core, this trapiche Chrome-Uvite tourmaline comes from the Kavungu mine adjacent to the tiny village of Jivunda.
(Trapiche: from the Spanish for 'mill', which were made of wood and used to extract juices and oils from fruits and olives.)
They were initially mined in 2004, by a commercial mining company that thought they were emerald gems. However, after realising they are tourmalines instead, the mining company pulled out. Ever since, specimens have been recovered by the children from Jivunda - they dig them out by hand, and sell them to passing traders.
Whilst the area is abundant in tourmaline, only 1-2% of all the tourmaline found are euhedral crystals that are suitable for slicing to show the trapiche pattern. For that reason, the trapiche tourmaline is seldom encountered on the international market.
Additionally, these are the first known occurrence of trapiche tourmalines!!!
Market Rate: USD$80 to USD$100/carat
Free Shipping available - use the code FR33SHIP
Weight: 4.4ct
1.3 × 1.5 × 0.2cm
Locality: Kavungu Mine, Jivunda, Mwinilunga District, North-Western Province, Zambia
Also known as "Mercedes Benz tourmaline", due to the shape of the trapiche-like, graphite inclusions in the core, this trapiche Chrome-Uvite tourmaline comes from the Kavungu mine adjacent to the tiny village of Jivunda.
(Trapiche: from the Spanish for 'mill', which were made of wood and used to extract juices and oils from fruits and olives.)
They were initially mined in 2004, by a commercial mining company that thought they were emerald gems. However, after realising they are tourmalines instead, the mining company pulled out. Ever since, specimens have been recovered by the children from Jivunda - they dig them out by hand, and sell them to passing traders.
Whilst the area is abundant in tourmaline, only 1-2% of all the tourmaline found are euhedral crystals that are suitable for slicing to show the trapiche pattern. For that reason, the trapiche tourmaline is seldom encountered on the international market.
Additionally, these are the first known occurrence of trapiche tourmalines!!!
Market Rate: USD$80 to USD$100/carat
Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJgxzgEPtUi/?img_index=1
Note: These are real and natural products, and so might have some flaws or imperfections. We have done our best to pick the best pieces available, but nature is often imperfectly perfect. Therefore, please only make the purchase if you are alright with this.
