Lepidolite pseudomorphing Tourmaline (RARE locality specimen) (ex Bill Larson Collection)

Item Description

The famous Elizabeth R. Mine in Pala is well-known for producing some of the finest Kunzite crystals in the last few decades from any North American locality. Rarely does one encounter Tourmaline crystals from this locality, let alone a unique pseudomorph like this. This miniature sized specimen is an incredibly hard to find pseudomorph of pinkish colored Lepidolite partially replacing green Tourmaline, free of matrix. I have seen similar specimens of Mica replacing Tourmaline from places like Maine and Brazil, but I can't think of another San Diego County locality where this specific phenomenon has been observed. A great specimen for any fan of pegmatite minerals, pseudomorphs or simply mineral oddities. From the collection of Bill Larson of Fallbrook, California, with a label stating that the piece was field collected by Roland Reed (former owner of the Elizabeth R. Mine) and the specimen was at one point part of the Bob Dawson Collection. As mentioned, this piece is from Bill Larson, a well-known gem and mineral dealer as well as a miner and collector. Bill is synonymous with minerals of San Diego County, and owned and operated famous mines such as the Stewart Lithia, the Tourmaline Queen, the Pala Chief and the Himalaya, producing some of the most iconic mineral specimens to come out of the area during the 1970s-1980s. You can read his biography at https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/larsonwilliam-f/