Tourmaline (var. Elbaite)

Here's a nearly black tourmaline, from the renowned Stewart Lithia Mine in Pala, California. This thumbnail features a beautifully lustrous, striated prism, and a perfectly flat termination. When held up to the light one can see that the termination has a green cap to it. The mine, originally opened around the turn of the 20th century for lithium mining, and was later reopened in the 1960s to extract gem-quality elbaite, morganite, and kunzite. This specimen is in excellent condition, with no damage aside from the base where it was separated from the pocket. This classic thumbnail is a vivid and gemmy example of the exceptional tourmaline crystals that make the Stewart Mine one of the most celebrated gem crystal localities in the United States.

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This specimen comes from the collection of Dr. Peter Tarassoff, a prominent figure in mineralogy, particularly known for his work at Mont Saint-Hilaire (MSH). His diligent collecting and examination efforts have led him to be the first to identify at least 35 species and discover 12 new species, not only at MSH but also at other alkaline localities. Dubbed the "Dean" of Mont Saint-Hilaire collectors, Peter was honoured with the naming of the new species petarasite in 1980. He has authored or co-authored numerous mineralogical articles and has been a member of the Mineralogical Association of Canada since 1964. Additionally, Peter has volunteered at the Redpath Museum for the past 21 years, where he was formally appointed the Honorary Curator of Mineralogy. In recognition of his significant contributions to mineralogy, Peter was awarded the 2017 Pinch Medal