Pala International Inc.

Pala International Inc. Pala International is home to some of the planet’s finest gems, precious stones and mineral specim

In 1968, Bill Larson, a connoisseur of quality gems and minerals, formed Pala Properties International (PPI; now called Pala International) and purchased three San Diego County gem mines: the Stewart Lithia, Tourmaline Queen, and Pala Chief. Located in the foothills of northern San Diego county, these mines are part of a local mining history dating back to the 1800s, when tourmaline accounted for

the largest percentage of gemstones mined here. American, European, and Asian gem houses were actively involved, including Tiffany’s, which had part-time buyers in the Pala and Mesa Grande mining districts. Even the Chinese were fond of tourmaline, using the gem in oriental carvings and on mandarin clothing. Gemstone production during the early 1900s was recorded in county records as exceeding two million dollars. With the emergence of PPI in the late 1960s, organized mining was on the upswing. Although Bill Larson’s Stewart Lithia Mine produced small pockets of tourmaline, it was not until 1972 that a strike at the Tourmaline Queen produced tourmaline crystals in what was called “the find of the century in terms of color and perfection.” An exceptional piece from that strike called the “Candelabra” is now on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

02/13/2026

Rhodonite - Morro da Mina Mine, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil

One of my favorite rhodonite specimens I’ve ever handled or seen.

01/24/2026

Come see us at the westward look resort hotel. The show will start on the 29th! We are in room 220 in building 20!

From everyone at Pala International a seasons greetings and a Happy New Year. Thank you to all the clients that came to...
12/24/2025

From everyone at Pala International a seasons greetings and a Happy New Year.

Thank you to all the clients that came to the shows and visited with us. We had a great 2025 at all the shows this year and look forward to hopefully repeating that in 2026!!

09/02/2025

Come see Pala International at the Hard Rock Summit Show next week SEPT 4-7, 2025. Held at the Westin Hotel in Westminster, Colorado just north of Denver.

Photo of last years set up, we will be in the same location Booth: HS.315

Quartz on MarbleFrom the Carrara Marble Quarries, Massa-Carrara Province, Northern Tuscany, Italy17 x 13 x 4.5 cmPhoto...
07/10/2025

Quartz on Marble
From the Carrara Marble Quarries, Massa-Carrara Province, Northern Tuscany, Italy
17 x 13 x 4.5 cm

Photo in last slide by Mia Dixon

In the new Rocks & Minerals July/August 2025 Volume 100 there is a great article on the Carrara marble location for quartz specimens. Here is one of the finest I’ve ever seen!

Fluorite - Xia Yang Mine, Xia Yang city, Yongchun Co., Quanzhou, Fujian, China11.5 cm tall Private collection Photograph...
03/25/2025

Fluorite - Xia Yang Mine, Xia Yang city, Yongchun Co., Quanzhou, Fujian, China
11.5 cm tall
Private collection

Photographed in the IKONS; The Beauty of Fine Minerals - 2024 Published by Mineralogical Record

Address

912 S Live Oak Park Rd
Fallbrook, CA
92028

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17607289121

Website

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