Gene & Sally LaBerge Collection In 1978 Gene worked out a deal to purchase a large group of minerals from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. Gene accompanied John Barlow and Don Olson in John’s private plane to do the deal, and this is one of the specimens that Gene got in the split. This, to me, is the most important specimen Gene acquired in the Northland purchase. A historic specimen that is also so aesthetic is hard to find. The large central crystal is perfect “watermelon” with a thin green rind on a dark pink rubellite core. You can even see the zoning looking straight down on the flat termination. The damaged and contacted side crystal hints at what might have been had the cluster been collected intact. A true classic Maine tourmaline.