Elbaite Tourmaline

A most attractive 6.0 x 3.4 x 3.0 cm Elbaite Tourmaline prism attached at one side to a small block of tan cream Albite feldspar, from the famous Himalaya mine at Mesa Grande in San Diego County, California, USA.  Begun in 1898, this gem-rich, miarolitic granite pegmatite is classified as an LCT-type (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) and produced Tourmaline specimens and gem grade material throughout the whole of the twentieth century.  This Elbaite prism is triangular in cross section and the majority of the crystal is multiple shades of cherry red.  It terminates in a flat pinacoid, first with a 2 mm thick band of peach then finally a 2 mm thick lime green cap.  It is a lovely example of Elbaite from this historic Californian mine.