Pegmatite Gems

The Pegmatite Gem Pocket is a reproduction of a gem pocket from the Stewart Mine in San Diego, California. It shows how pegmatite pockets with mineral crystals are discovered in the mine and the crystals they may hold including the common minerals of quartz, feldspar and mica, and the precious tourmaline (pink elbaite and black schorl), beryl, topaz and kunzite. The exhibit also points to the importance of mining pegmatite minerals, which are used for electronic components, metallurgical alloys, radioactive products and ceramics. It highlights their importance as mineral specimens and gemstones.