Pala, California

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Pala
442/760

Pala is a small, mostly

as the site of a mission to indoctrinate the Native Americans.

The community is north of

.

The community name may be derived from the Native American Cupeño or Luiseño language term pal, meaning "water." Another possible origin of the name is the Spanish word pala, which means "shovel."

The community is in the Pacific time zone. Pala is at an altitude of 404 feet, located at 33°21′55″N 117°04′36″W / 33.36528°N 117.07667°W / 33.36528; -117.07667 (latitude 33.365N, longitude 117.075W).

Mineral resources

After United States annexation of California following its victory in the Mexican–American War, Pala became known for its mineral resources, including gold and tourmaline. Numerous gem mines were established in 1890s, of which more than twenty are listed in the Mindat database.^[1] Gem mines in the Pala District still produce tourmaline, with the pink variety as the regional specialty.

China's

highly prized the pink tourmaline mined in Pala. Under her influence, China's demand for this gem created a boom in the California tourmaline industry after 1902, particularly at the Himalaya mine. Demand fell off about 1911, declining after the Empress died in 1908.

Pala was the site where

, the godfather of gemology.

See also

• Mission San Antonio de Pala
• Pala Indian Reservation

References