Tourmaline with Lepidolite (1972) - image 1

Tourmaline with Lepidolite (1972)

Unknown Owner

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A historic and gemmy tourmaline from the famous Himalaya Mine of San Diego County in California, but with unusually strong, intense color combined with superb condition for one of this age. Shockingly, surprisingly, it has NO REPAIRS - this is highly unusual for a crystal of this size from this mine, which shows huge geologic disruption over time such that most pockets were collapsed. The tourmaline is hundreds of millions of years old, and yet is a survivor! Lastly, it has fine ends - as so many often have dull tips. The bottom has a truly glassy termination (atypical!); and the top has a standard Himalaya Mine termination with normal luster - admittedly not the same glassy look as Brazil but pretty good for California! It was acquired by the late Richard Kosnar in 1972 (noted on the back of his label); and long kept by his family until passing to us. Richard mined the Himalaya himself from time to time, and was well known as a superb collector of both modern and historic classics of his time (among other things, he once owned "The Great Phospho"). This fine, unrepaired, complete floater crystal is truly one of only a handful of this pristine quality in existence, in this size class. 104 grams.