Beesley (1975) was the first to discover that Dunton Quarry untreated elbaite fluoresces light chalky blue in short wave ultraviolet light while heat treating intensifies the fluorescence. Heating may turn Dunton elbaite colorless. Fluorescent tourmaline is rare, but has been observed several localities in Maine, Brazil, and Mozambique and elsewhere. Maine tourmaline appears to have the strongest fluorescing pink and green tourmaline with the pink tourmaline fluorescing brighter than green tourmaline. Inclusions are distinctive in Newry gem tourmaline and unusual inclusions have three phases. Beesley provided illustrations of the inclusions in Dunton elbaite and suggested that these could also be used to verify the origin of the Newry tourmaline from mislabeled specimens.
Quality for species:
Excellent - world class for species or very significant. (!!)
Dunton Gem Quarry, Newry, Oxford County, Maine, USA