Tour of the Oceanview Mine 2018 : Discovering San Diego’s Tourmalines and Kunzites

In 2018, I had the immense privilege of visiting one of the most iconic mines in the United States, the Oceanview Mine, located in San Diego County, California. Discovered in 1907, this mine has since been the source of some of the most beautiful gemstones, including tourmalines and kunzites, for which the region is renowned.

The Oceanview Mine is unique because of its exceptional minerals and the fascinating history surrounding its operation. Since its discovery, it has produced gems of rare quality, and in 2018, the people behind this story were kind enough to open the doors of their mine to us for an exclusive tour. It was a rare opportunity to see the production of these precious stones up close and to learn from local experts about the extraction and cutting of these magnificent gems.

Tourmaline, in its various colors, is one of the stones most sought after by collectors, while kunzite, with its hues ranging from pale pink to lavender, is a stone particularly prized for its beauty and rarity. This visit gave me a better understanding of the complexity of their extraction, as well as the importance of the Oceanview Mine in the history of California gemology.

Here are a few photos from this incredible experience, which takes us right into the heart of mining operations while we discover the spectacular gems extracted from this land steeped in history.