Tourmaline (var. Rubellite), Lepidolite

This vibrant association specimen comes from the renowned Stewart Lithia Mine in San Diego County, California, featuring rich pink Rubellite Tourmaline embedded in a sparkling purple Lepidolite mica matrix. The Stewart Mine is famous for its striking Rubellite specimens, and this piece is a classic example of the material mined between the 1950s and 1970s. A highly representative specimen from this historic lithium-rich pegmatite deposit.

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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