Elbaite

specimen number:
1052541

location:
Mesa Grande, San Diego Co., California, USA

description:
A thick grouping of lustrous pink slightly translucent elbaite crystals from this famous area. Some damage present as seen. This is an interesting historical specimen that comes with an antique label and dates to the very early 20th century. The label is shown at the end of the video.

The Mesa Grande District, situated in the Peninsular Ranges of San Diego County, California, is a world-renowned source of gem-quality tourmaline and spodumene. Geologically, the district is centered on a series of complex granitic pegmatite dikes that intruded into older gabbro and schist host rocks during the Cretaceous period. These pegmatites are characterized by well-developed internal zoning, where pockets of rare minerals formed from highly evolved, volatile-rich residual magmas. Historically, the district gained international prominence in the late 1890s and early 1900s, driven largely by the massive demand for pink tourmaline from the Chinese Imperial Court. The most famous mine in the district, the Himalaya Mine, began large-scale operations around 1898 and remained a prolific producer until the collapse of the Chinese market in 1912. Although activity slowed significantly after this period, the district has seen various periods of redevelopment and artisanal mining throughout the 20th century and into the present day. Mesa Grande remains a legendary locality for its vibrant bi-color tourmalines and exceptional lepidolite specimens, representing a pinnacle of American pegmatite mineralogy.

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