Gem Tourmaline (RARE - Larson Coll.)

Item Description

A RARE and highly deceptive tourmaline from the Oceanview Mine on Chief Mountain. The sculptural, unusual tapered tabular trigonal crystal is highly lustrous and well-striated. It appears to be a black schorl under normal light. BUT - backlighting reveals that most of the crystal is gem with gorgeous cranberry-red color! There is also a zone of translucent blue below the lustrous matte termination. Complete all-around, the bit of edge bruising has negligible impact to the importance of this colorful fine rarity. Mined in 2011, according to the label. 78 grams mass. The pegmatite is better known for fine beryl (morganite and aquamarine) and kunzite (pink) spodumene specimens. Ex Bill Larson San Diego County Pegmatite Collection and long on display at his Pala International shop in Fallbrook. A rare red gem tourmaline from the locale.