Spodumene (circa 1910, rare locale) Bill Larson Coll.

Item Description

This floater gem features light yellow-green color and is a VERY RARE OLD-TIME spodumene crystal from the less well-known San Pedro Mine in the Pala District, first mined in 1902. The gem, doubly terminated, sculptural crystal is heavily striated and has typical waxy lustre. Triphane is the yellow-green varietal of Spodumene. This has a pale pastel color in person, but it sparkles nicely to make up for lack of strong color. Comes with an OLD Imperial Mines of California label. Bill Larson's handwritten note states this label dates to 1910 - 1915! The pegmatite produced spodumene (mostly kunzite), beryl and yellow quartz. See MINDAT: https://www.mindat.org/loc-21155.html and the 2002 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 33, No. 5 for more history on the mine. Ex Bill Larson San Diego County Pegmatite Collection and long on display at his Pala International shop in Fallbrook. A very rare, perhaps UNIQUE old-time documented spodumene crystal from the locale. Mass is 13 grams. MUCH better in person!