Elbaite (Tourmaline)

Just the mention of the Himalaya mine in San Diego County, California, sets the pulse racing, as it is one of the world’s most famous gem pegmatite localities and one even more associated for its world-class Tourmaline crystals.  This little beauty is a good 4 cm tall but with a cross-section of 2.4 x 2.1 cm, makes this a punchy, stubby prism, full of colour and charm.  Mounted vertically on a bevelled clear acrylic base, the initial 2 to 2.5 cm (the colour-interface slopes) is beautiful, semi-transparent pale bubble gum-pink while the top zone, including the termination, is mouth-watering acidic apple-green.  The green section is cloudier than the pink but remains totally translucent.  The termination is a combination of triclinic pyramid and flat pinacoid, with the sloping faces having a greasy lustre and those of the pinacoid, a bright glassy lustre.  The prism faces are deeply striated.  A fabulous pink and apple-green Elbaite from the Himalaya mine, a wonderful combination of gem mineral and classic locality.