**Complimentary Specimens** As a gesture of appreciation, winning lots with a final hammer price above €50 will include one small additional mineral offered entirely free of charge. ————— Description: GemPulse Minerals has the pleasure of presenting one of the most elusive expressions within the tourmaline family: a natural Achroite, the colourless variety of elbaite tourmaline, originating from the renowned pegmatites of Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan. If colour is often what first captures attention in gemstones, this crystal commands respect by doing the opposite. Devoid of inherent colour, it reveals instead the pure architecture of growth, structure and light. What may appear, under certain lighting conditions, as subtle grey or faint bluish impressions is not pigment, but the optical response of a perfectly transparent to translucent crystal interacting with directional illumination. In its true state, the crystal is colourless, allowing form and internal structure to take precedence. The specimen presents a classic elongated prismatic habit, sharply defined and proportionally balanced, rising as a slender column with a strong axial presence. Fine, parallel longitudinal striations run uninterrupted along the length of the crystal, recording the rhythm of its growth within the pegmatitic environment. These striations are crisp and legible, enhancing both its mineralogical clarity and its visual texture under raking light. Internally, the crystal displays natural growth features and subtle growth banding perpendicular to the c axis, visible when light is transmitted through the body. These features are not disruptive; on the contrary, they serve as direct evidence of natural formation, reinforcing the specimen’s untreated and unaltered state. Light travels cleanly through the crystal, activating depth and internal relief rather than colour, offering a rare opportunity to observe tourmaline’s internal architecture without chromatic distraction. The lustre is distinctly vitreous, with reflective planar faces that respond beautifully to focused lighting. Despite its modest cross section, the length of the crystal amplifies its presence, allowing it to read as a complete and coherent specimen rather than a fragment of rough. Achroite occupies a unique and often misunderstood position in gemology. As the colourless end member of elbaite tourmaline, it is genuinely rare, both because the absence of colouring elements is uncommon in tourmaline chemistry and because such material is often overlooked in favour of vividly coloured counterparts. Paprok is one of the few localities globally documented to produce achroite and near achroite material, making this specimen particularly relevant from a geographic and mineralogical perspective. This is not a stone defined by colour, but by purity of structure, clarity of growth and geological restraint. It stands as a quiet but powerful example of tourmaline crystallisation at its most honest and instructive. Specifications: • Weight: 0.62 g • Weight in carats: 3.10 ct • Dimensions: 28 × 6 × 4 mm • Origin: Paprok, Kamdesh District, Nuristan, Afghanistan • Mineral species: Elbaite Tourmaline • Variety: Achroite (colourless) • Crystal system: Trigonal • Crystal habit: Natural prismatic crystal • Colour: Colourless (true achroite) • Transparency: Translucent to locally transparent • Internal features: Natural growth structures and growth banding visible under transmitted light • Lustre: Vitreous • Treatment: None, completely natural and unpolished Notable Points: • Genuine achroite tourmaline, the colourless variety of elbaite • Confirmed origin from Paprok, a classic and documented locality for achroite • Elongated prismatic habit with strong axial presence • Well developed longitudinal growth striations • Visible internal growth banding enhancing mineralogical readability • True absence of inherent colour; observed hues result solely from lighting interaction • Vitreous lustre across preserved crystal faces • Clean, isolated crystal with no distracting matrix • Excellent length to width ratio enhancing display and presence • Rare example where form and structure dominate over colour • Educational specimen illustrating tourmaline crystallography • Strong appeal to advanced mineral collectors and gem specialists Collector’s Interest: For serious collectors, achroite represents one of the most understated yet intellectually compelling varieties of tourmaline. Free from chromatic bias, it allows the collector to engage directly with growth habit, internal structure and geological process. Specimens from Paprok hold particular importance due to the locality’s limited and well documented production of colourless elbaite. In a market dominated by saturated colours, such pieces are increasingly appreciated for their rarity, honesty and mineralogical purity. This crystal rewards close inspection rather than immediate impact. It is a specimen chosen not for spectacle, but for understanding. Lapidary Potential: While the clarity and internal coherence suggest theoretical lapidary potential, any cutting would permanently erase the prismatic habit, striations and growth history that define this specimen. Its highest and most truthful value lies in its preserved crystalline form, where transparency, structure and growth can be appreciated in their natural, uncompromised state ————- Shipping and Handling: All orders are shipped by Portuguese National Post. • Dispatch time: within 1 to 3 business days after payment confirmation to Catawiki • Transit time with CTT service: between 5 to 7 business days within europe and worldwide, depending on destination national post. • A tracking number is always provided Photography and transparency: All photographs are taken under controlled lighting conditions using a macro lens, carefully selected to present each specimen as accurately as possible. No filters, colour enhancement, or artificial saturation are applied. The lighting setup uses a calibrated 5500K light source, replicating neutral daylight to reveal natural tones, surface features, and internal characteristics. Under warmer or weaker indoor lighting, colours may appear slightly different, which is normal. The purpose of this photographic process is documentation and representation, not visual enhancement. Images are intended to reflect the specimen faithfully as it appears under balanced natural light conditions. Identification and ethics: All specimens offered are natural and described to the best of our knowledge, based on direct sourcing, professional experience, and information provided by trusted suppliers working at the origin. Every effort is made to ensure transparency and accuracy regarding identification, locality, and general characteristics, avoiding misleading statements about treatment, provenance, or nature. Customs and import taxes: Any customs duties, import fees, or local taxes applied by the destination country are entirely the responsibility of the winning bidder. These charges are not included in the auction price or shipping cost and are determined by the buyer’s local authorities. Guarantee and resolution: Customer satisfaction is important. In the unlikely event of an issue such as loss, damage, or discrepancy, please contact us promptly through Catawiki’s messaging system. Each case is handled individually and fairly, with appropriate solutions offered when justified. Appreciation and commitment: We sincerely thank you for your trust. Our work focuses on careful selection, accurate representation, and respectful presentation of mineral specimens with character and interest. Each piece is chosen for its individual qualities rather than speculative or financial considerations. We aim to provide a transparent, reliable, and consistent experience for collectors at all levels. With gratitude, GemPulse Minerals