Before we get to the pictures of pretty minerals, let’s talk a little about the history of the Himalaya Mine!\u00a0 (If you really can’t handle this part, you could scroll past, but you’d be missing out on some cool stuff!)\u00a0 The Himalaya Mine was officially located in 1898, though early reports indicate that local Indigenous Peoples knew of the gem crystals.\u00a0 Legend has it that white settlers located the mine after noticing Indigenous children playing with tourmaline crystals!<\/p>\n
Gail Lewis was the original claim holder on the mine, though only held the property for four years.\u00a0 In 1902, J.L. Tannenbaum, an employee of Tiffany & Company and a very controversial man, acquired the property through claim jumping.\u00a0 Keep in mind, this is the original usage of the term “claim jumping,” meaning Tannenbaum filed another claim over the top of Lewis’ existing claim.\u00a0 Much legal to-do ensued over this, but Tannenbaum retained the property.\u00a0 The mine was then operated by Tannenbaum with J. Goodman Braye as mine superintendent.\u00a0 Braye is a very interesting figure in mining history, as his position as superintendent was one of significant power and respect and he also happened to be an African American in the early 1900s.<\/p>\n