While tourmaline occurs in many deposits worldwide, only select localities produce specimens of true fine-mineral caliber. Among them, the Pederneira Mine stands apart for both the quality and diversity of its output. Once a coffee plantation, the mine later yielded more than two dozen distinct pockets of exceptional tourmaline, each with its own defining characteristics, making Pederneira specimens immediately recognizable to experienced collectors.
The mine’s most celebrated recovery is the specimen known as Bi-Color Steel, recovered in 2004 and widely regarded as its foremost achievement. The composition features three primary crystals in near-perfect balance, accompanied by a complement of secondary crystals that appear almost deliberately arranged. The color progression is extraordinary, transitioning from vivid red through a narrow colorless zone into rich green and blue hues before terminating in a brighter green. The crystals exhibit gem-level clarity and luster, allowing light to pass through them like stained glass, while the overall composition achieves a rare harmony of scale, balance, and impact. Formed through a highly specific combination of chemistry, heat, and pressure nearly half a billion years ago, this specimen is instantly recognizable and ranks among the most important tourmaline masterpieces in existence.