Rare MAPLE LODE Mine TOURMALINE, Aguanga Mtn, Oak Grove, San Diego County, California. This is a perky thumbnail box with Tourmaline from the mine, found in the summer of 2023. Small dark blue to purple-ish elbaite or possibly foitite tourmaline. It appears black unless backlit by strong light.
We are working on reopening this mine over the next couple years and it is NOT open to collecting. It has been a small sporadic producer in the past and pieces from this locality are highly sought by San Diego and California locality collectors. The mine has been known for small blue tourmalines, gem blue and clear topaz, dark red to purple apatite, aquamarine and other minerals and gems. I am the owner of this mine since September 2021