Provenite

White Queen Mine

MineDraft data

33.3764° N, 117.0367° W · ± 1 km

Albite and Morganite from California, United States, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AlbiteMorganite

Albite at White Queen Mine

Peach-coloured morganite crystals on albite and quartz, White Queen Mine.
Peach-coloured morganite crystals on albite and quartz, White Queen Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Second view of the morganite on albite specimen, White Queen Mine.
Second view of the morganite on albite specimen, White Queen Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Detail of morganite with albite and quartz, White Queen Mine.
Detail of morganite with albite and quartz, White Queen Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
NaAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Albite matrix with quartz
Typical size
Specimen about 10 cm
Color / luster
White
Associated minerals
Beryl (morganite)quartz
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-523 SRC-551

About Albite →

Morganite at White Queen Mine

Euhedral gemmy pink morganite crystal of about 4.4 cm from the White Queen Mine, Pala.
Euhedral gemmy pink morganite crystal of about 4.4 cm from the White Queen Mine, Pala.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Gemmy pink euhedral morganite crystal of about 5.5 cm from the White Queen Mine.
Gemmy pink euhedral morganite crystal of about 5.5 cm from the White Queen Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Large sharp hexagonal morganite crystal with albite on the back, White Queen Mine.
Large sharp hexagonal morganite crystal with albite on the back, White Queen Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Complete morganite floater crystal with etched edges, White Queen Mine.
Complete morganite floater crystal with etched edges, White Queen Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Sharply terminated vivid pink morganite on cleavelandite with a little quartz, White Queen Mine.
Sharply terminated vivid pink morganite on cleavelandite with a little quartz, White Queen Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be3Al2Si6O18
Morphology
Euhedral hexagonal crystals and complete floaters, some with etched edges; also on cleavelandite
Typical size
Crystals about 4-10 cm, up to nearly 1 kg
Color / luster
Vivid to rich pink (grapefruit pink), gemmy, vitreous
Associated minerals
Albite (cleavelandite)quartz
Surface features
Etch effects from resorption on edges and faces
History
Many specimens come from the personal collection of Norm Dawson, who owned and operated the mine (1948-1992)

Sources: SRC-266 SRC-841 SRC-842

About Morganite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Gem pegmatite on Hiriart Mountain, Pala district (MRDS commodity: gem minerals).
Region
California
Country
United States

Coordinates from the USGS MRDS record 'White Queen'.

Sources: SRC-525

Sources

  1. SRC-525 · Database
    Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), WFS feature query - Pala district, San Diego CountyU.S. Geological Survey · USGS
  2. 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
  3. SRC-551 · Website
    File:Albite-Beryl-Quartz-ck90a.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  4. SRC-266 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - BerylAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2001 · Mineralogical Society of America / Mineral Data Publishing
  5. SRC-841 · Website
    Morganite Value, Price, and Jewelry InformationArem, J.E.; Clark, D.; Smigel, B. · 2025 · International Gem Society
  6. SRC-842 · Website
    File:Beryl-169815.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert 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.