By: Fabiola Grosshan
Submitted: 2010-07-05 01:39:14 | Word Count: 387
When taught about the Gold Rush, children usually learn to associate the movement with San Francisco and the many ghost towns of Northern California. What is so often left out is the quantity of fine gems and minerals also found in Southern California. Gold was discovered in many parts of Southern California, as well. Los Angeles was actually a center for gold mining years before the major discovery that kicked off this historical period. In fact, even today San Diego jewelry stores are renowned for their rare gem production and trade.
Southern California was unable to make much of a name for itself in the gold mining business. Its role in the Gold Rush was only brief, as the deposits discovered in areas like San Diego did not contain an ample amount of the material. However, there is a high population of San Diego gold buyers because of the area’s reputation as a hub for jewelry making. Over the course of the twentieth century, it has become a major center for rare gem discovery and refinement.
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Kunzite, morganite, agate, garnet, quartz, feldspar crystal, blue topaz and especially pink tourmaline are just a few sought after native stones that have left the San Diego jewelry trade very prosperous. Pink tourmaline was made popular by the trend-setting Dowager Princess of China Tzu-Shi in the late 1800s and continues to be a favorite among San Diego jewelry buyers and sellers. It has been used in jewelry, carvings and other works of art, including the famous clock tower at Horton Plaza.
In fact, San Diego jewelry sellers have become so prominent that the city seems to be using the trade as a source of tourism. It now hosts Gem Faire, which refers to itself as “the largest gem and jewelry circuit on the west coast.” The Pala Oceanview Mine also frequently gives driving tours of historical mining areas. So, although San Diego did not play an integral role in the gold aspect of California mining history, it is important to recognize its significance as a leading producer of rare gems and jewelry – even today!
