Provenite

Himalaya Mine

MineUnknownDraft data

33.2139° N, 116.8000° W · ± 1 km

Albite, Beryl, Elbaite and Microcline from California, United States, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AlbiteBerylElbaiteMicrocline

On the same specimen

Same specimen Quartz with Microcline

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Albite at Himalaya Mine

Twinned microcline with white cleavelandite albite and purple lepidolite, Himalaya Mine.
Twinned microcline with white cleavelandite albite and purple lepidolite, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pink tourmaline crystal with lepidolite and albite, Himalaya Mine.
Pink tourmaline crystal with lepidolite and albite, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Deep purple lepidolite with albite on grey feldspar, Himalaya Mine.
Deep purple lepidolite with albite on grey feldspar, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pink tourmaline with a blue termination on bladed albite, Himalaya Mine.
Pink tourmaline with a blue termination on bladed albite, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
NaAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Bladed albite (cleavelandite) as matrix to tourmaline, lepidolite and twinned microcline
Typical size
Matrix specimens about 3 to 11 cm
Color / luster
White
Associated minerals
Elbaitelepidolitemicroclinequartz
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-523 SRC-539

About Albite →

Beryl at Himalaya Mine

Etched, near-colorless beryl crystals from the Himalaya pegmatite, Mesa Grande, California.
Etched, near-colorless beryl crystals from the Himalaya pegmatite, Mesa Grande, California.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Etched, doubly terminated colourless beryl (goshenite) floater crystal from the Himalaya Mine, California.
Etched, doubly terminated colourless beryl (goshenite) floater crystal from the Himalaya Mine, California.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Second view of an etched goshenite beryl floater from the Himalaya Mine, California.
Second view of an etched goshenite beryl floater from the Himalaya Mine, California.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Lustrous etched goshenite beryl thumbnails from the Himalaya Mine, California.
Lustrous etched goshenite beryl thumbnails from the Himalaya Mine, California.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Morphology
Sharp, etched prismatic crystals
Typical size
Thumbnail-size examples
Color / luster
Nearly colorless with a faint pink tint; brilliant luster
Surface features
Etched faces

Sources: SRC-273

About Beryl →

Elbaite at Himalaya Mine

Pink to colorless splayed elbaite crystal group, about 10 cm, labelled Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande.
Pink to colorless splayed elbaite crystal group, about 10 cm, labelled Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Na(Li₁.₅Al₁.₅)Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH)
Morphology
Crystal clusters and floaters; one specimen has an unusual splayed form
Typical size
Specimens shown are cabinet to miniature size (about 7 to 10 cm)
Color / luster
Pink to colorless, also green and red zoned crystals; glassy luster

Sources: SRC-258

About Elbaite →

Microcline at Himalaya Mine

Cluster of twinned feldspar crystals with quartz, albite and lepidolite, Himalaya Mine.
Cluster of twinned feldspar crystals with quartz, albite and lepidolite, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Sharp porcelain-white Carlsbad-twinned microcline, Himalaya Mine.
Sharp porcelain-white Carlsbad-twinned microcline, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Translucent, etched, elongated microcline crystal, Himalaya Mine.
Translucent, etched, elongated microcline crystal, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
KAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Sharp twinned crystals and clusters; elongated etched crystals
Typical size
Specimens about 5 to 6 cm
Color / luster
White, porcelain-like; some translucent
Associated minerals
Quartzalbitelepidolite
Twins
Carlsbad twins
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-583

About Microcline →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Pegmatite dikes on Gem Hill (per specimen label).
Region
California
Country
United States

Also labelled Himalaya pegmatite / Himalaya dikes. Coordinates not filled: no coordinate source could be opened in this session. Coordinates: Himalaya Mine point in a mine database (rounded to 4 decimals; no accuracy statement given). Mine is on Gem Hill, Mesa Grande district, San Diego County. The Esmeralda Mine in the same district is about 2 km away per Mindat. Coordinates: Himalaya Mine point in a mine database (rounded to 4 decimals; no accuracy statement given). Mine is on Gem Hill, Mesa Grande district, San Diego County. The Esmeralda Mine in the same district is about 2 km away per Mindat. Coordinates: Himalaya Mine point in a mine database (rounded to 4 decimals; no accuracy statement given). Mine is on Gem Hill, Mesa Grande district, San Diego County. The Esmeralda Mine in the same district is about 2 km away per Mindat.

Sources: SRC-258 SRC-299

Sources

  1. SRC-258 · Website
    File:Elbaite-250996.jpg (and Elbaite-259783.jpg)Robert M. Lavinsky (photo); Wikimedia Commons · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons (via download.osmand.net mirror)
  2. SRC-299 · Website
    Himalaya Mine - Western Mining History
  3. SRC-523 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - AlbiteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2001 · Mineral Data Publishing / Mineralogical Society of America
  4. SRC-539 · Website
    File:Albite-kbt07a.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  5. SRC-273 · Website
    File:Beryl-sd304a.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (read via mirror)Wikimedia Commons (file page; photo by Robert M. Lavinsky) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  6. SRC-583 · Website
    File:Microcline-Feldspar-Group-Quartz-33947.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.