Description

Detailed Description

This specimen is a combination of four well-crystallized minerals. It features dark green andradite crystals (to 2.0 cm across), dark green gemmy diopside crystals, small, sparkling yellow-green epidote crystals and dark green clinochlore crystals. The andradite, diopside and epidote crystals all have bright, glassy lustre. The large andradite is incomplete at the back and there is an incomplete crystal on its front edge. Otherwise in excellent condition. Stands perfectly for display as photographed. It’s not oo often that one sees collection-quality crystals of four different minerals on a single specimen, and the diopside crystals on this piece are fantastic.

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About these Andradites

These andradites come from a mountainous border region of Afghanistan near Pakistan. It is an area that has been quite dangerous and sometimes inaccessible in recent times. The first specimens from the Spin Ghar range became known in the late 1980s and sporadic finds have been made since then.