Maine Tourmaline

Tourmaline was first discovered in the Mt. Mica area in southwestern Maine in 1820. Several other deposits have been found across the state since then, with the gem becoming so important to the state’s history and identity that it was named Maine’s state mineral. It has been beloved by the gem community and locals alike since.

Maine tourmaline ranges in color from black to the vibrant shades of pink/red, green, and blue the gem is known for, as well as the popular “watermelon” variety, and its fine qualities can rival those from localities such as California, Brazil, or Nigeria.

According to Maine.gov, the most common species in the state is schorl, a black, iron-bearing tourmaline. Less common but still present is elbaite, which produces the more colorful varieties. The finest specimens in Maine are found in pegmatites, which offer pockets that allow for larger crystals to grow.

Three Things to Know About Maine Tourmaline

The Hamlin Necklace: One of the most significant pieces of North American jewelry features Maine tourmaline. Augustus Hamlin commissioned the piece to showcase tourmalines uncovered at the Mt. Mica mine he owned. The necklace consists of 18 removable pendants with tourmalines of various colors and beryl from Mount Mica attached to a simple gold chain, with the central pendant featuring a 34.25-carat tourmaline. It was bequeathed to the Harvard Mineralogical Museum in 1934.

The Big Find: The 1972 discovery of huge pockets of tourmaline of all colors at a mine on Plumbago Mountain in Newry, Maine. Over two years, it yielded more than a ton of tourmaline, marking North America’s largest and most significant gem-quality tourmaline discovery, putting Maine firmly on the gemological map and reawakening gem mining across the state.

Pricing: Maine tourmaline, because of its rarity, beauty, and significance to the state, can have a premium when it comes to pricing. Local collectors and gem connoisseurs may be willing to pay those prices for a fine piece, but as the stone is best known to a smaller group of people, it could see some price resistance in the larger market if priced too high.