[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7034-S7035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE BICENTENNIAL OF TOURMALINE IN MAINE

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, this year, in addition to celebrating 
the bicentennial of the State of Maine, we are also commemorating the 
bicentennial of the first major find in North America of the treasured 
semiprecious stone tourmaline in the mountains of western Maine. It is 
a fascinating historical coincidence that the State of Maine and the 
discovery of its official State gemstone share the same anniversary.
  Maine became our Nation's 23rd State on March 15, 1820. In late 
autumn of that year, college students Elijah Hamlin and Ezekiel Holmes 
were pursuing their studies in mineralogy on an expedition to Mount 
Mica in Paris, ME. As they headed down the mountain at sunset, they 
spotted a vivid green sparkle amid the tangled roots of a fallen tree. 
The beautiful crystal was an exciting find, but the encroaching 
darkness prevented further exploration.
  Their plan to continue their search the next morning was cancelled by 
an overnight snowfall that blanketed the ground until spring. When the 
two students did return months later, they were astonished by the 
amount and variety of the crystals among the rocky ledges. The many 
shades of green, red, white, and yellow translucent stones they found 
explain why the word ``tourmaline,'' which comes from an ancient 
language of Sri Lanka, roughly translates to ``many colors.''
  News of the discovery spread, and the region soon became the foremost 
hunting grounds in North America for these remarkable gems, rivaling 
famous sites in South America and Asia. Among the early Maine rock 
hounds was Elijah Hamlin's younger brother Hannibal, who four decades 
later would serve as President Lincoln's first Vice President.
  Today, Maine tourmaline is treasured by jewelers, artists, and 
collectors. Our distinctive watermelon tourmaline, which combines pink, 
white, and green in one stone, is especially prized. Residents and 
visitors alike delight in searching for these gorgeous stones amid the 
marvelous scenery of our western mountains.
  The Hamlin Necklace, containing stones of various colors from the 
original find, can be seen at the Harvard

[[Page S7035]]

University Mineralogical Museum. In 1972, a spectacular discovery in 
Newry, ME, yielded hundreds of pounds of red and green crystals, 
including the ``Jolly Green Giant,'' a 10-inch crystal now in the 
Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History collection. The State 
of Maine tourmaline necklace was designed using Newry gems and 
presented to the State in 1975 by the Maine Retail Jewelers 
Association.
  On Presidents Day 2010, a major discovery included a 120-carat blue 
tourmaline crystal, among the most rare of hues. This was named ``The 
President'' and was cut into nine gems. The largest was presented as a 
gift from the State of Maine to President Barack Obama when he visited 
that year.
  How and why such large deposits of tourmaline are found in Maine, so 
distant from the usual locales, remains a puzzle for geologists to 
solve. It is worth noting, however, that tourmaline is said to bestow 
on its bearer fearlessness, happiness, and self-confidence--qualities 
that define the people of our State.
  Mr. President, Maine is renowned for the stunning beauty of its 
mountains, forests, and seacoast. The 200th anniversary of the 
discovery of tourmaline is a reminder that some of the most beautiful 
things are not as readily apparent but are well worth looking for.

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