Tourmaline is a beautiful gem that comes in many colors. Our state is a treasure trove for gem hunters looking for this special stone. With its varied landscapes, this area is perfect for those who love to search for beautiful rocks.

In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through some of the best spots in our state to find tourmaline. We’ll also share some handy tips to make your hunt more successful.

Get ready to explore the natural beauty of this gem-rich region and maybe even take home a colorful tourmaline of your very own!

How Tourmaline Forms Here

Tourmaline forms deep underground through intense heat and pressure. It originates from hot, mineral-rich fluids that move through fractures in rocks like granite and pegmatite. As these fluids cool, the minerals within them start to crystallize, forming tourmaline.

The color of tourmaline depends on the specific minerals involved, leading to a wide range of hues including pink, red, green, and blue.

Over millions of years, these crystals grow and become the beautiful, multifaceted stones we see today. Tourmaline is prized for its variety of colors and is often used in jewelry and decorative items.

The Types Of Tourmaline

Several incredible types of Tourmaline can be found in the US as well as in our state. Each is uniquely beautiful and interesting including:

Elbaite

Elbaite is found in pink, red, green, blue, yellow, and even colorless forms. What makes elbaite special is its ability to show multiple colors in a single crystal, like the famous “watermelon” tourmaline with pink and green hues.

This gem stands out due to its complex chemical makeup, which includes lithium, sodium, and aluminum. This composition gives Elbaite its diverse color range and dichroism, allowing it to display different colors when viewed from different angles.

Elbaite has a unique place in history as the first tourmaline variety in which lithium was discovered back in 1818. Some rare types, like the neon blue Paraiba elbaite, are highly sought after by collectors and jewelers.

Schorl

Schorl is known for its deep, rich color. It typically forms long, prismatic crystals with a shiny, glass-like surface when polished. Unlike other tourmalines, schorl gets its distinctive black color from high iron concentrations.

One of Schorl’s most fascinating features is its ability to become electrically charged through heating or rubbing. When charged, it can attract or repel small particles.

This unique electrical property makes Schorl valuable in various industries. It’s used in electronics and manufacturing to control static electricity and electromagnetic interference.

Despite being less colorful than other tourmalines, schorl’s practical applications make it an important and interesting variety.

Rubellite

Rubellite stands out with its vibrant pink to red colors. The most prized ones show a pure, saturated red without any brown or orange hints. This beautiful color comes from manganese in its makeup.

One cool thing about rubellite is its double refraction. It can look like it has two different colors when you view it from different angles.

Dravite

Dravite, or Brown Tourmaline, comes in shades from dark brown to light brown-yellow. It can look a bit like Smoky Quartz, with a semi-see-through quality.

Its crystals are often needle-like or prismatic, with points at both ends. This sets it apart from other tourmalines like the darker schorl or the colorful elbaite.

What makes dravite special is its rich sodium and magnesium content. This sets it apart from other tourmalines. It was first discovered in 1883 and named after the Drava River in Slovenia.

Indicolite

Indicolite is a rare and captivating blue to blue-green stone. It’s prized for its pure, bright blue color, which is considered the rarest within the tourmaline family. The hues can range from light blue-green to deep, rich blue, often with high clarity.

What sets Indicolite apart is its unique optical effects. It shows pleochroism, appearing to change color when viewed from different angles. Some specimens also display chatoyancy, creating a “cat’s eye” effect when cut in a certain way.

Indicolite is sometimes called “Brazilian sapphire” due to its resemblance to the precious gem. However, they’re different minerals.

The increasing demand for blue tourmalines has made indicolite highly sought-after in the gemstone market, appreciated for its beauty and rarity.

Watermelon Tourmaline

Watermelon tourmaline is truly one-of-a-kind. It looks just like a slice of watermelon, with a pink or red center and a green outer layer. This unique look happens because different elements join the crystal at different times as it grows.

These crystals often form in a rounded triangle shape. They’re see-through to somewhat clear and have a glass-like shine. When cut into slices, they really do look like little watermelons!

Cat’s Eye Tourmaline

Cat’s eye tourmaline is known for its mesmerizing chatoyancy effect. This creates a bright band across the stone’s surface, resembling a cat’s eye.

This stone comes in various colors, from green to pink to brown, and is usually semi-translucent to opaque.

What makes this stone special is the perfect alignment of tiny, needle-like inclusions inside it. These scatter light in a unique way, creating that eye-catching effect. It’s quite different from other tourmalines that don’t have this feature.

Unlike other cat’s eye stones, Tourmaline offers a wider range of colors and is often more affordable.

Achroite

Achroite is a rare, colorless variety of tourmaline that looks like a drop of clear water turned to stone. It’s completely transparent, making it unique among tourmalines which usually have color. The name comes from Greek, meaning “without color.”

What’s special about achroite is that it doesn’t change color when viewed from different angles. It means the stone can be cut in many ways without losing its clarity.

Verdelite

Verdelite is known for its beautiful green color. It can range from light green to deep emerald.

One thing that makes verdelite special is that you can find big, clear crystals of it. This isn’t always easy with other gemstones.

People love using verdelite in jewelry because its rich color and interesting light effects make it a popular choice for all kinds of accessories. Each piece of verdelite is like a little piece of nature you can wear.

Paraíba Tourmaline

Paraíba Tourmaline is a rare gemstone that catches the eye with its vibrant neon blue or green color. It’s like no other tourmaline you’ve seen before. The intense glow comes from copper in the stone, making it stand out from its cousins.

This stone is one of the rarest. For every 10,000 diamonds mined, only one Paraíba tourmaline is found.

It was only discovered in the late 1980s, making it a newcomer in the gem world. But Paraíba tourmaline’s unique color and rarity quickly made it a favorite among gem lovers.

Its discovery caused quite a stir in the gem community. Even small stones can be valuable because of how rare and beautiful they are.

What Rough Tourmaline Looks Like

When you’re out looking for rough Tourmaline on your own it’s important to know what you’re looking for.  Here are some tips to help you recognize rough tourmaline.

Look for Color Variations

Tourmaline comes in many colors, like pink, green, blue, and even black. Some pieces have multiple colors, like watermelon tourmaline, which is pink and green.

If you see these color mixes, it’s likely tourmaline. Keep an eye out for vibrant shades.

Assess the Density and Weight

Rough tourmaline is relatively heavy for its size. If you pick up a piece and it feels denser than expected, it could be tourmaline. This weight can help you confirm your find.

Examine the Crystal Structure

Tourmaline features distinctive crystal shapes, ranging from slender and elongated to chunky forms. Look for triangular cross-sections and striations on the surface, which indicate its unique growth patterns.

Check for Transparency

Some rough tourmaline can be slightly transparent. If you hold it up to the light, you might see through it a bit. This transparency can be a good sign that you have tourmaline.

A Quick Request About Collecting

Tips on where to look

Once you get to the places we have listed below there are some things you should keep in mind when you’re searching:

Look for Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary rocks are great places to find tourmaline. These rocks form from layers of sand, mud, and minerals. Over time, minerals like tourmaline can get trapped.

Look in riverbeds or areas where sediment has built up. You might find small pieces or even larger crystals. 

Explore Mines

Mines are great spots to find tourmaline. Many mines across the U.S. extract various gemstones, including tourmaline.

Some mines even allow visitors to search for gems themselves. Always check if they have guided tours or special digging days.

Search in Gravel Pits

Gravel pits are often overlooked, but they can be treasure troves. These pits dig deep into the earth, exposing layers of rock.

Tourmaline can be found in the gravel. Just sift through the material carefully.

The Best Places To Find Tourmaline In California

First, we will name our favorite places in the state to look for tourmaline. There are a lot of great places to mine for gems in California, but only a few are good for finding tourmaline specimens. Some places are not as well known, but they often have great chances to search.

Diablo Range

Stretching roughly 150 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Salinas Valley, the Diablo Range is a long mountain chain that offers plenty of natural beauty as well as exciting opportunities for rock and gem seekers, with tourmaline being one of the most fascinating minerals to be found there.

The mountains contain a variety of various rocks, such as granite and metamorphic rocks, which are exactly the types of sites where tourmaline prefers to grow. Originally, volcanic activity and shifting earth produced the ideal conditions for tourmaline to originate.

In addition to tourmaline, the Diablo Range is a rich source of other stones and minerals, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and treasure hunters.

Where we found tourmaline in the Diablo Range

If you hike through rough terrain or look closely at rocks, you might find pretty tourmaline crystals buried in the ground.

The tools every geode hunter will need

When you're out looking for geodes having the right tools for the job is very important. You don't need a lot for most trips but there are a handful that are critical and will make your life a lot easier.

We get asked a lot about the equipment we use. Over the years we've found a handful of tools that we recommend to both new and experienced geode hunters which we outline in great detail in our complete rockhounding tools and kit guide. These are quality options that also happen to be relatively inexpensive.

Below are the basic tools that make your life so much easier and save you a ton of time. Check out the full guide to see everything we recommend bringing. One quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but we try very hard to only recommend gear we would use ourselves and often recommend brands you can't find on Amazon.

At a minimum you should have:

1 - Sturdy rock hammer: The Estwing Rock Pick is our standard

2 - Rugged chisels: Try Kendo' 3-piece Chisel Set

3 - Compact shovel: The Koleiya 28-inch shovel works well

4 - Rock screen pan: The Wazakura Soil Sieve Set fits the bill

5 - Eye protection: DeWalt Safety Glasses are cheap and comfortable

6 - Head protection: Malta's Safety Helmet has been our go-to

7 - Jewelers lens with at least 20x magnification: Jarlink's Jewelers Loop is perfect

The geode-finding books that we use most

There are also a few books that have been extremely helpful in the search for gems. These books have great recommendations and tips:

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America 

Northwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide 

Earth Treasures: The Northwestern Quadrant 

We provide links to find these tools on Amazon but some can also be found at your local hardware stores. For more recommendations check out the link to our full tool guide above.

Emerald Bay

Emerald Bay is a stunningly beautiful place with clear blue water and picture-perfect scenery. It’s part of Lake Tahoe and a popular place for outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, and boating.

But Emerald Bay is also interesting because you can find tourmaline, a valuable and colorful gemstone.

Geologically, the area around Emerald Bay has a lot of history. Different rocks and minerals were formed over millions of years as the Earth’s crust moved. You can find tourmaline in different colors here, such as pink, green, and black.

Where we found tourmaline at Emerald Bay

This gem is often found in areas where the Earth has changed or been active with volcanoes, which is exactly what happened in the Emerald Bay area. But, the best place to look for these gems is on the rocks around the bay.

Lake Henshaw

People love to fish and do other outdoor activities at Lake Henshaw, a beautiful place to find tourmaline because it’s close to the famous Pala mining area.

Tourmaline has been mined in this area for more than one hundred years. The geology of this area is perfect for making it. Volcanic activity and the shifting of the Earth made pockets where it could grow in the past.

In other words, you can find beautiful tourmaline crystals near Lake Henshaw, especially in the nearby hills and mine areas. These crystals are often pink or green but also bi-colored or tri-colored.

Where we found tourmaline at Lake Henshaw

You can look around the old mines and natural areas nearby, as well as the shore and hills to find tourmaline.

San Jacinto Mountains

The San Jacinto Mountains are breathtakingly beautiful with their rough peaks and lush forests, but they are also a hidden gem for rock and mineral enthusiasts.

One of the best things about this area is that it’s a great place to find tourmaline, a very colorful and valuable gemstone. The mountains have had a lot of geological activity in the past, such as volcanic eruptions and earth shifting.

These mountains have had a lot of geological activity in the past, such as volcanic eruptions and earth moving. These events made the perfect conditions for tourmaline to form.

The San Jacinto Mountains have different types of rocks, like granite and metamorphic rocks, where tourmaline often grows. This makes them a great place to look for gems.

Where we found tourmaline in the San Jacinto Mountains

As part of the Peninsular Ranges, the San Jacinto Mountains have pegmatite deposits. Pegmatites are igneous rocks that often have large crystals and many minerals, including tourmaline.

Looking where pegmatites are exposed can be a good place to start. Old gem mines, some of which may be closed or on private property, are also great places to find these gems.

Tourmaline Queen Mountain

People who like rocks and gems love to visit Tourmaline Queen Mountain. The mountain is famous for its tourmaline, a beautiful and valuable gemstone in many colors.

It’s part of the Pala mining district, known for having many minerals and gemstones. The mountain has unique rocks, such as pegmatite, where tourmaline usually grows.

Although much of the mining is now history, people interested in geology and gathering gemstones still come to the area.

Where we found tourmaline in Tourmaline Queen Mountain

Many have been looking for gems in this area for over one hundred years. Around Tourmaline Queen Mountain, you can find tourmaline in bright colors like pink, green, and even rainbow.

Other Great Places To Find California Tourmaline

After discussing our top picks, we wanted to discuss the other places on our list. Below is a list of the additional locations where we have succeeded, along with a breakdown of each place by county.

Our recommendations by county

County	Location
Alpine	Hope Valley
Fresno	Green Mountain
Imperial	Black Mountain
Inyo	Deep Canyon
Los Angeles	Sierra Pelona Valley
Marin	East Peak of Mount Tamalpais
Mariposa	Silver Knob
Riverside	Anza Valley
Riverside	Big Maria Mountains
Riverside	Cahuilla Mountain
Riverside	Red Mountain
Riverside	Iron Spring Mountain
Riverside	Garnet Hill
Riverside	Rouse Hill
Riverside	Crestmore area, The Jensen Quarry
San Diego	Elder Canyon
San Diego	Moosa Canyon
San Diego	Tulley Mountain
San Diego	El Capitan Quarry
San Diego	Gem Hill
San Diego	Chief Mountain
San Diego	Van Dam Peak
San Diego	Rincon Mountain
San Diego	San Marcos Mountains
San Diego	Volcan Mountains
San Diego	Palomar area, Aguanga Mountain
San Diego	Mountain Lily
San Diego	Romona area, Hatfield Creek Valley
San Diego	Romona area, Hatfield Creek
San Diego	Pauma Valley
San Diego	Warner Springs area, Chihuahua Valley
Siskiyou	Russian Lake
Siskiyou	Klamath Mountains
Tulare	Drum Valley
Tulare	Frazier Valley

Common Tourmaline-Hunting Questions

Here are some questions that people often ask about where to find tourmaline in the state that should also be answered:

Like collecting other minerals in California, the legality of collecting tourmaline depends on where you are and who owns the land.

Minerals like tourmaline can not be taken from private land without permission. If you want to take minerals from private land, you must get permission from the owners.

You can collect tourmaline for fun on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the United States Forest Service (USFS), but there are rules.

For example, you can not use mechanical equipment and only collect a certain amount of rocks in a day. This is for personal, non-commercial use only.

It’s usually against the law to take rocks, minerals, and jewels, like tourmaline, from national and state parks. These places are protected; taking any natural materials from them is against the law.

Learning about and following the state’s laws and rules about collecting tourmaline and other minerals is essential before you start. This will make sure that your activities are legal and responsible.

The Best Places To Buy Tourmaline In California

Some people do not like the dirty and hard work of finding tourmaline. This is for you if you want to find them without having to do that!

Here are some of our favorite rock shops in the area where you can find and buy different tourmaline specimens:

• Rock Mama Gallery – 5501 Power Inn Rd #140, Sacramento, CA 95820, United States
• Rock Paradise – 21828 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303, United States
• The Stone Femme Studio – 2418 Honolulu Ave # C, Montrose, CA 91020, United States
• Tahoe Rock Shop – 3564 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States
• Yosemite Crystals – 5008 CA-140 suite c, Mariposa, CA 95338, United States