A group of 3 liddicoatites ( tourmaline ) sit on some quartz matrix, all with excellent end faces. The large crystal is 14.1 cm long, the second largest 12.4 cm. The piece was found in June 1992 in a large pocket, which, however, delivered almost exclusively loose crystals.
Eyewitnesses to the salvage told me that this piece is the best that could be salvaged without damage at the time and also survived the ride on a motorbike over horribly bad slopes.
Unfortunately, in 22 years of traveling to Madagascar, it has not been possible for me to visit the mountain Anjanabononoina near the town of Manapa, around which so many highly interesting deposits would have to be visited. My Malagasy friends strictly refuse to bring me to this area because unfortunately bush robbers ("dahaly" in malgache) make the area highly unsafe.
Anjanabononoina, M;anapa, Antsirabe, Madagascar
15x12cm