{"product_id":"microlite-with-cassiterite-tourmaline-on-lepidolite-virgem-da-lapa-minas-gerais-brazil","title":"Microlite with Cassiterite \u0026 Tourmaline on Lepidolite – Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn interesting multi-mineral pegmatite specimen featuring \u003cstrong\u003emicrolite, cassiterite and tourmaline on purple lepidolite\u003c\/strong\u003e from \u003cstrong\u003eVirgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe specimen is dominated by a sparkling lavender to \u003cstrong\u003epurple lepidolite\u003c\/strong\u003e matrix hosting small \u003cstrong\u003ebrown octahedral microlite crystals\u003c\/strong\u003e, contrasting \u003cstrong\u003eblack cassiterite\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003egemmy green tourmalines (elbaite)\u003c\/strong\u003e. The combination of several collectible pegmatite minerals on the colorful lepidolite matrix makes this an appealing and mineralogically diverse specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMicrolite is a tantalum-rich oxide mineral typically found in granitic pegmatites and is considerably less familiar than many of the minerals with which it occurs. One of the accompanying historic labels specifically describes this specimen as \u003cstrong\u003e“small brown octahedral [crystals] with black cassiterite (tin oxide) on purple lepidolite.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe specimen comes from with a label from the Mark \u0026amp; Jeanette Rogers Fine Minerals (USA) dealership. At some point, it was acquired by an unknown Calgary, Alberta collection and later ended up in Value Village in Calgary (a thrift store). This \"Value Village collection\" was purchased by the sharp eye of an enterprising young man in Calgary who later sold it to me at Rocky Mountain Minerals \u0026amp; Fossils. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinerals:\u003c\/strong\u003e Microlite, Cassiterite, Tourmaline, Lepidolite\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal System:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cubic (Microlite); Tetragonal (Cassiterite); Trigonal (Tourmaline); Monoclinic (Lepidolite)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Class:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oxides, Silicates\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ex Daniel Nieviadomy; Unknown Calgary collector; Mark \u0026amp; Jeanette Rogers Fine Minerals\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.5 × 6  cm (longest tourmaline = 1.5 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rocky Mountain Minerals and Fossils","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52749729890586,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/6011\/1386\/files\/Microlite-Cassiterite-Tourmaline-Lepidolite-Virgem-da-Lapa-Brazil01.jpg?v=1787871512","url":"https:\/\/keithrocks.ca\/products\/microlite-with-cassiterite-tourmaline-on-lepidolite-virgem-da-lapa-minas-gerais-brazil","provider":"Rocky Mountain Minerals and Fossils","version":"1.0","type":"link"}