Gypsum is a common mineral, and one that’s more important to the modern world than many realize. Here the best samples are often found in the same mines, making it a good spot to start cracking open some stone. The morganite of Southern California is found in the same pegmatites as tourmaline, to the northeast of San Diego. The varieties differ but the same constituents can usually be found within them, with tourmaline and beryl both being among the most commonly found minerals in their makeup. These stones are rich in unique minerals, and are one of the best sources of gemstones found in the USA. Beryl isn’t a rarity, it can be found in various igneous rocks across the world, but finding locations with a consistent coloration in gem-quality is rare indeed.īeryl, like tourmaline, tends to be found as one of the base constituents of pegmatites. Gem-quality beryl is clear and has few internal fractures, allowing it to be cut into faceted gems for jewelry. While Southern California doesn’t have a heap of different varieties, it is a source of gem-quality morganite. Beryl is one of the larger families of gemstones, containing such favorites as emerald, aquamarine, and heliodor in addition to morganite.

The clear sort is the most common, but there’s also a surprising amount of the pink variant known as morganite. In the same pegmatites that host tourmaline, you can also find a few varieties of beryl. Read More: Ultimate Guide To Tourmaline | What It Is and Where To Find It! 2. There are many of them, and some even allow public access, but access changes based on the season and individual mine.

If you’re interested, the best place to start looking is near the famous tourmaline mines to the Northeast of San Diego. Colors in this region range across the spectrum, but rubellite is particularly “common.” These are a common host for tourmaline, and separating them carefully is how the crystals are best found. These are large-grained stones, where the “grains” are usually crystals that range from a few centimeters to over a foot in length. On the other hand, tourmaline also exists in incredible colors, ranging from earth tones to deep saturation that can compete with the best of rubies and emeralds.Īcross this part of the state it’s possible to find pegmatites. This type of tourmaline is known as schorl and it’s the most common type by far, making up more than 90% of the tourmaline found worldwide. Tourmaline is, in most cases, a deep black color. The area inland of San Diego hosts pegmatites that contain some of the best tourmalines in the world, along with some of the rarest varieties like the rubellite mentioned above and indicolite. Tourmaline is a famous gemstone, whether you’re a fan of the deep colors of rubellite and indicolite or prefer it in the color-zoned watermelon tourmaline configuration.

California jasper rock