Elbaite Tourmaline: Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande, California USA

Description

Species: Elbaite Tourmaline

Locality: Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California USA

Dimensions: 6.8 x 3 x 2.7 cm. (90 grams)

SOLD

The Himalaya mine is perhaps the most iconic and well-known locality for gem tourmaline crystals in North America, having produced superb, often bi-color pink to green elbaite crystals for over one hundred years. This is an excellent doubly-terminated, gemmy single crystal with exceptionally well-defined “half and half” green to pink color zoning. Doubly-terminated, color-zoned tourmaline crystals are the rule rather than the exception at the Himalaya mine, but to find a gemmy crystal with such a perfect demarcation of pink to green zoning is unusual. This fine tourmaline is from older find’s most likely in the early 1980’s when Pale International was working the mine, and weighs 90 grams. Comes with a custom engraved lucite base by Sunnywood. Annette Slade photo. Classic!