Elbaite with Lepidolite

specimen number:
2242002

location:
Himalaya Mine, San Diego Co., California, USA

description:
A gorgeous pink lustrous highly translucent crystal of elbaite with minor lepidolite. This is in very good condition as seen. This weighs 76.88 g.

The Himalaya Mine, located in the Mesa Grande District of San Diego County, California, is a world-renowned source of gemstone-grade lithium tourmaline. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within a complex granitic pegmatite dike system that intruded into gabbroic country rock approximately 100 million years ago, creating large pocket zones filled with clay and high-quality crystals. The mine is most famous for producing elbaite, specifically the vibrant pink and bi-color "watermelon" varieties, which often occur as long, striated prisms associated with lepidolite and cleavelandite. Historically, mining and quarrying at the site began in 1898 after its discovery by local prospectors and was later expanded by the colorful mineral dealer Gail Spaulding and later the Pala International group. The mine saw its most intense periods of commercial production during the Chinese "Tourmaline Rush" from 1904 to 1912 and again in the late 20th century under the direction of Bill Larson. While large-scale industrial operations have transitioned toward fee-digging and specimen recovery, the Himalaya Mine remains an active and iconic locality for American gemstones through 2026.

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