Tourmaline - Pala, USA
Mineral: Tourmaline
Locality: Pala, Pala District, San Diego County, California, USA
Description: Tourmaline rough and cut from Pala discovered in 1900. At this time in Pala's history, these pink tourmalines were being mined for the Empress Dowager Cixi of China who LOVED pink tourmalines and was responsible for driving the economic boom of the Pala region of this time. In 1907 George Kunz, working for Pierpont-Morgan at the time, donated these pieces. Most recently cleaned by French dealer Alain Martaud.