Rubellite on schorl

The Khetchel site in Burma has been renowned for decades for its finds of tourmalines with a unique botryoidal form. It is the only known site in the world that produces these “mushroom-like” tourmalines. Despite the very unfavorable geopolitical situation, mining of these remarkable crystals has been successfully resumed after a long hiatus, much to the delight of the collecting community. In most cases, the crystals have a schorl core overgrown with red or pink rubellite. This specimen is one of the relatively larger examples and is notable for the remarkable form of the rubellite growths on the schorl. When held up to the light, the clarity of the rubellite and its delicate, deep red-pink color stand out.