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Identity HelpLocation is the question... maybe the wrong discussion group

15th Sep 2023 18:14 UTCShann Whynot-Young

Hey all,

I'm not sure this is the right venue, the location chat seemed not quite the fit either, so here I go. I have an etched Spodumene var. Kunzite on Albite var. Cleavelandite with trade name Watermelon Tourmaline and I am hoping to narrow the locality, which I understand may be impossible. Paprok looked similar but I don't want to cloud the options.

Questions Answered
Can it scratch glass? : Unable to test
Can you scratch it with your fingernail? : Unable to test
Is it light/heavy for the size? : Unable to test

15th Sep 2023 18:14 UTCShann Whynot-Young

side view

15th Sep 2023 18:16 UTCShann Whynot-Young

Quartz also as seen, maybe Kaolinize material?

15th Sep 2023 18:17 UTCShann Whynot-Young

etching

15th Sep 2023 20:57 UTCHerwig Pelckmans

Shann Whynot-Young ✉️

I have an etched Spodumene var. Kunzite on Albite var. Cleavelandite with trade name Watermelon Tourmaline

Dear Shann, you wrote:

"I have an etched Spodumene var. Kunzite on Albite var. Cleavelandite with trade name Watermelon Tourmaline ..."

Your specimen does show tourmaline crystals with an inner reddish color and an outer green rim. Such tourmalines are somewhat fittingly called "watermelon tourmalines".

Your last photo clearly shows the major kunzite crystal, no doubt there. Having both kunzite and tourmaline on one specimen is not that common. Here is a link to photos that have both minerals:

https://www.mindat.org/photoscroll.php?frm_id=pscroll&cform_is_valid=1&searchbox=spodumene+tourmaline

Cheers, Herwig

15th Sep 2023 21:48 UTCShann Whynot-Young

Nuristan, Afghanistan seems to represent a high number of those locations but clearly not the ONLY spot. Thank you for this Herwig. So far I’m leaning towards not definitive.

15th Sep 2023 22:04 UTCSteve Hardinger 🌟 Expert

Doesn't look like Southern California (San Diego or Riverside Counties) to me.

I'm a bit dubious about this specimen's authenticity. Not because of the species association but instead because of the rather small contact area between the spod and the matrix. Other areas look a bit too perfect as well. Perhaps the specimen was well-prepared (which is certainly possible) or just assembled to some extent.

16th Sep 2023 01:55 UTCShann Whynot-Young

I had the same thought until I hit it with a UV light, there are pieces of Kunzite all over the place and an obvious contact point to the right of the main crystal where another had been broken off.

16th Sep 2023 02:03 UTCShann Whynot-Young

To this point as well, (and this is included in my personal label) when I was photographing this the first time I dropped it on its face and broke off the Kunzite crytal, it was a keystone repair but at that point I noticed that there had been another crystal to the right of the main one that is missing but was there when the specimen was first prepped (I.e. the white clay removed from the cleavelandite behind the Kunzite to give more depth. As for the tourmalines they are firmly planted and much less transparent, lustrous, and attractive in person so to glue those on seems a detractor in my mind. I believe it to be authentic and have no intention to sell it either way but it’s always nice to be able to track down more info if possible.

16th Sep 2023 00:56 UTCHerwig Pelckmans

Steve Hardinger ???? Expert ✉️

Other areas look a bit too perfect as well. Perhaps the specimen was well-prepared (which is certainly possible) or just assembled to some extent.

Exactly my thoughts too, Steve, when I first saw the photo, but I held back hoping someone else would notice and mention it.

* second photo, the tourmaline crystal closest to the kunzite: looks like an un-natural termination

* the large kunzite looks like it was "put in place"

* the two intergrown watermelon tourmalines : looks like those crystals were "put in place" as well (see photos 2 and 3)

My two cents.

Cheers, Herwig

16th Sep 2023 07:52 UTCPaul De Bondt Manager

Looks assembled to me too.

Give it a try with a UV lamp. Most glues are fluorescent.

Keep safe.

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