Home > Type Localities I – July 8 > MS0726 Pezzottaite

Pezzottaite - Sold


Pezzottaite is a lithium cesium beryllium silicate related to beryl, first appearing as bubble-gum pink gem crystals of a new "raspberry beryl" at the 2003 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Gemologists noted a refractive index too high for beryl. Pegmatite scientists from all over the world came together to describe the new mineral, which they named after Federico Pezzotta, a pegmatite scientist and mineral collector (Laurs et al. 2003). This specimen is a single crystal, 8 mm long and 8 mm wide with a smaller accessory crystal attached.