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 Touring the Cryo Genie Gem Mine

 

Here in San Diego County, we are blessed to have a number of active tourmaline mines.  One of these is the Cryo Genie Mine, located on Lost Valley Road  on the way to the Indian Flats Campground, near the small town of Warner Springs.  Dana Gochenour is the claim holder and owner/operator of this mine, which has 280 feet of underground workings available for tours.  For a small fee ($30.00 at present) you are given a great tour of the mine plus the opportunity to screen in their tailings pile for pink or green tourmaline, quartz and smoky quartz crystals, purple lepidolite and nice mica books.

If you are really lucky, you might find some morganite (a rare, light pink to lavendar gem) or a quartz-filled nodule coated in lepidolite.  Some  of these nodules may have the lepidolite intruded into the quartz, looking like purple flowers when sliced on your saw. There is also some carving grade lepidolite with spots of white cleavelandite throughout the stone---it would make great bookends or cabochons.

When you first enter the mine, you will be shown a great huge smoky quartz crystal which has been left in situ for visitors to see. The point is as large as a man's hand!   You will also get to see the Monday pocket where some of the best large pink tourmalines were found a few years ago  There is a huge black tourmaline crystal with pink tourmaline attached to the bottom which is showing in the wall of the Monday pocket.  This, along with the purple lepidolite, shows how the minerals occur together in the pegmatite.  When you exit the mine, ask to see the picture album of these incredible specimens.  I think that you will really appreciate what it took to bring those specimens to light. You may also be shown the large blue-green tourmaline "caps" (the tops of the crystals) which are about 21/2" wide and 1" high, found here in another pocket.

Everyone at the mine is very helpful--they will help you screen your finds, as well as show you the best spots in which to dig.  If you are into scenery and photography, the views from the tailings area are spectacular, with Lake Henshaw to the south and Palomar Mountain to the west.  You can watch the gliders and tow planes as they ascend from the Gliderport just a couple of miles away from the mine. 

The mine is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm, but it is best to call ahead to let them know you are coming, as they may be blasting that day.  You can call them at  (714)336-4467 for directions to the mine and current prices for the tour. Basically, it is located 2.8 miles from Hwy. 78 on Lost Valley Road, which is also the road to the Indian Flats Campground.  It is located between the Gliderport and the resort/town of Warner Springs, on the north side of Hwy. 79, where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the highway.  There is no sign to tell you when you have arrived at the mine, but there is a Porta-Potty at the turnout/road access for the mine. I think you will be happy you visited this great collecting site--I know I was!