Tourmaline is a popular semi-precious gem that comes in a wide variety of colors.The first discoveries of tourmaline in the United States occurred in Maine in 1822 at a mine known as Mount Mica. In fact, tourmaline is the first gemstone that was mined in the U.S. by miners, though Native Americans had been mining gemstones long before that. Typically, the mines in Maine produce reddish pink and light green tourmalines; however, a 256-carat blue tourmaline is the biggest recorded stone cut from this state.

California also has a deep history of tourmaline mining. Since the 1870’s or 1880’s, tourmaline has been mined semi-regularly in San Diego and Riverside Counties in California. In fact, because of the longevity of operation of some of these mines and the amount of tourmaline produced, California is the largest supplier of tourmaline in the Northern Hemisphere. California tourmalines come in most colors, and the largest mined was a 400-carat pink-red stone.

Valued by Peterson & Young at $500.