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Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA

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A miarolitic LCT-type granitic pegmatite, highly boron-enriched, located in north-central San Diego Co., California, USA. First discovered in 1898, the Himalaya mine was one of the largest producers of gem and specimen-grade tourmaline in North America throughout much of the 20th century.



References:
Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker (1999): The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1): 3-18.

Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.

Foord, E.E. (1977): Famous mineral localities. The Himalaya Dike System. Mineralogical Record 8, 461-475

Hochleitner, R. and Weise, C. (1987): Die Himalaya Mine bei Mesa Grande in Kalifornien. Lapis 12 (10), 11-32 (in German)

Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.

Merrill, F. J. H. 1914. Geology and Mineral Resources of San Diego and Imperial Counties: Gems, Lithia Minerals. California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, Cal. California State Printing Office, December. Chapter 1, pages 61-110.

Mineral. Rec. 20(5): 399

Rocks & Min. 63: 21

Rocks & Min. (1998): 168 & 178, Figure 30

Rynerson, F. J. 1967. Exploring and mining for Gems and Gold in the West. Happy Camp, California: Naturegraph Publishers, Inc., 204 pages.

Weber, F. H. 1963. Geology and mineral resources of San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology, County Report 3: pages 91-92.



Article entry:
The J. G. Braye Residence and Bunk House by J. S. Lewis & E. M. Ramsey 1988Scott L. Ritchie





 Map Reference: 33°12'50"N , 116°48'4"W

This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.


Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities


Mineral List:
  		•  Albite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Joseph A. Freilich
  		•  Albite
    var: Cleavelandite
    Reference: [Min.Rec.:20(5):399.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © J. Wingard
  		•  Amblygonite
    LiAl[(F,OH)|PO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler\'s materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
  		•  'Apatite'
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Apatite-(CaF)
    Ca
     
    5
    		[F|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2008 Jesse Fisher
  		•  Bavenite
    Ca
     
    4
    		Be
     
    2
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    9
    		O
     
    26
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
  		•  Beryl
    Be
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Beryl
    var: Aquamarine
    Be
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
     
  		•  Beryl
    var: Goshenite
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Beryl
    var: Morganite
    Description: Occurs in pegmatite.
    Reference: [Rocks & Min.:63:21.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2003 SLR
  		•  Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2004, Jim Bean
  		•  Cookeite
    LiAl
     
    4
    		(Si
     
    3
    		Al)O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    8
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
  		•  Elbaite
    [Na][(Li,Al)
     
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [Min.Rec.:20(5):399. / Foord, E.E. (1977): Famous mineral localities. The Himalaya Dike System. Mineralogical Record 8, 461-475]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2001 John H. Betts
  		•  'Feldspar Group'
    Reference: [Fender, M. 2007. Braye mine exploratory observations and field analysis. September.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Fersmite
    (Ca,Ce,Na)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
     
    2
    		(O,OH,F)
     
    6
    Reference: [Rocks and Mineral: 1998: 168 & 178, Figure 30.]
  		•  'Garnet Group'
    X
     
    3
    		Z
     
    2
    		(TO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		 (X = Ca, Fe, etc·, Z = Al, Cr, etc·, T = Si, As, V)
    Reference: [Fender, M. 2007. Braye mine exploratory observations and field analysis. September.]
  		•  Hambergite
    Be
     
    2
    		[O|OH|BO
     
    2
    		]
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  'Hornblende'
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler\'s materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
  		•  Laumontite
    CaAl
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Lepidolite
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2009, Jesse Fisher
  		•  'Mica Group'
    Reference: [Fender, M. 2007. Braye mine exploratory observations and field analysis. September.]
  		•  Microcline
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2001, Jesse Fisher
  		•  Microlite
    (Ca,Na)
     
    2
    		Ta
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		(O,OH,F)
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
  		•  'Monazite'
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
  		•  Muscovite
    KAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
  		•  Orthoclase
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [www.minsocam.org]
  		•  'Perthite'
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
  		•  Pollucite
    (Cs,Na)
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Rynerson, F. J. 1967. Exploring and mining for Gems and Gold in the West. Happy Camp, California: Naturegraph Publishers, Inc., 204 pages.]
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999: The Geol., Mineralogy, and History of the Himalaya mine, Calif Geology 52(1):3-18. Min.Rec.:20(5):399.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Quartz
    var: Smoky Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2004 SLR
  		•  Rynersonite (TL)
    Ca(Ta,Nb)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    Type Locality: Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    Reference: [Foord, E.E. (1977): Famous mineral localities. The Himalaya Dike System. Mineralogical Record 8, 461-475]
  		•  Schorl
    [Na][Fe
    2+
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
  		•  Spessartine
    Mn
    2+
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
  		•  Spodumene
    LiAl[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler\'s materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
  		•  Stibiocolumbite (TL)
    Sb(Nb,Ta)O
     
    4
    Type Locality: Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
  		•  Stibiotantalite
    Sb(Ta,Nb)O
     
    4
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.; Mineralogical Magazine 1963 33 : 458-466]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2009, Jesse Fisher
  		•  'Stilbite'
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Stokesite
    CaSn[Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Foord, Eugene E. (1977) Mineralogical Record: 8: 472-473; www.minsocam.org]
  		•  Talc
    Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler\'s materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
  		•  Tosudite
    var: Lithium Tosudite
    Reference: [Gaines et al. 1997, Dana's System of Mineralogy.]
  		•  'Tourmaline'
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  'Tourmaline
    var: Indicolite'
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
  		•  'Tourmaline
    var: Rubellite'
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  'Tourmaline
    var: Verdelite'
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37; pages 133-135.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2005 SLR
  		•  'Tourmaline
    var: Watermelon Tourmaline'
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]
  		•  Uranmicrolite
    (U,Ca,Ce)
     
    2
    		(Ta,Nb)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		(OH,F)
    Reference: [Fisher, J., E. E. Foord, and G. A. Bricker, 1999. The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1):3-18.]
    Site Photo
    Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2008 Jesse Fisher
  		•  Xenotime-(Y)
    YPO
     
    4
    Reference: [Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record, Volume 33, Number 5: pages 390-396, photographs.]


    47 entries listed. 27 valid minerals. 2 type localities (valid minerals).

    Localities in this Region:
    USA
     
    • California
      • San Diego Co.
        • Mesa Grande District
          • Gem Hill
            • Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes)

    The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database!
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Jobs in California, USA Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 1st Nov 2009 22:49:32