Tourmaline (Cat's Eye)

Item Description

The phenomena inside this green tourmaline, called a "cat's eye", is due to a shimmering chatoyancy caused by light reflecting off tiny tubes inside the tourmaline. Although common in some other species (mostly famous in Tiger's Eye and in sapphires), chatoyancy is a bit more rare in tourmalines. This lime-green gemstone, cut in a dramatic cabochon, is from a famous American gem locality, the Himalaya mine, located in San Diego County of California. The mine has a longstanding history, going back over a century, and it has been a major worldwide tourmaline source for the gem and mineral market. Such stones were always rare for the mine, and preserved as collector's items by the local miners and collectors both. Natural stone; no treatment.