Grossular - Raspberry Garnet, older find
stock #23.1-728
Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Sierra Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
1.7 x 1.3 x 1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $380
Pre Tucson
A small thumbnail with big color, a cluster of the Raspberry Garnets from Sierra de las Cruces (Coahuila, Mexico). This is from the Larry White collection, it has almost no matrix and is just bright red Garnets with very nice luster and in very good condition. Larry obtained this in 2000 from NE Geological Supply at the Springfield show. This would have been the earlier find of this type of more vivid Garnets which were very exciting at that show. Larry had excellent taste and though small this is a choice thumbnail!
Fluorite - geometricly stepped crystal
stock #23.1-505
Tule Mine, Melchor Muzaquiz
Coahuila,
Mexico
6.1 x 5.3 x 4.1 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $1150
Pre Tucson
Textbook perfect example of epitaxial stepped growth, this is very fine modern classic Mexican specimen. The bright purple Fluorite cube sits on contrasting matrix, and is from the Tule Mine, well-known for good Fluorites usually on Celestite blades. This piece is unusual in both the matrix and the well-developed habit of the crystal. The crystal is sizable 3.8 CM diagonal and has darker purple zoning at the outer edges. This is an especially choice example of this style from the late 1970 era finds that are unlike the better known specimens on Celestite. Displays super well from several angles.
Grossular - 'raspberry' Garnet
stock #10.1-272
Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Sierra Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
8.7 x 5.3 x 4.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $480
Spring 23
A large and colorful raspberry Garnet from the specimen mining project of Dennis Beals about 12 years ago. This has a dense cluster of Grossular crystals up to 1.4 CM, ranging in color from bright raspberry to a darker red-purple hue. Excellent luster on most crystals. There is some crystals on the outer edges that are broken and show that the core is quite dark to black inside with the outer skin being the red-purple color. This piece has the Garnets very well-exposed and it is a choice example of the find. The area here in Coahuila was a source of pink and greenish garnets as well as brown Vesuvianites known since the 1950 era. For decades the location was incorrectly given as Lago Jaco, which was deliberate misleading to keep the source private. The early finds were usually rather pale but these later Garnets are far more vibrant.
Grossular - rose-pink Garnet
stock #21.1-173
Cerro Azul, Sierra de Cruces
Coahuila,
Mexico
6.8 x 5.7 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
New Year 22
From a relatively new find (2020-21) by Denis Beals; these are larger rose Garnets from an area of the Sierra de las Cruces. This site has produced a few relatively large Garnets embedded in a hard Rhyolite matrix. Noticeably different in habit and look from the previous finds in this region, this piece is an excellent example. A cluster of two main intergrown Grossular crystals show good luster and contrast well with the matrix. Some contacting is noted, there are geometric imprints of other Garnets and some rougher faces, as was true of every piece we examined from the find. Nevertheless, while this is not a piece for perfectionists it is still a fine and colorful Mexican Garnet unlike anything else from the region.
Grossular - Raspberry garnet
stock #AX-19-232
Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Sierra Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
4.8 x 4 x 3.1 (miniature)
price: $160
Large red-purple "Raspberry" Garnets on contrasting matrix from Coahuilla. The crystals reach 1.4 CM and some are intergrown. Aside from some contacts the crystals are unusually complete and well exposed on the matrix. This locale was still active and producing until about 4 years ago. This style of Garnet is unique to this zone which over the years produced many fine specimens. A good, affordable specimen.
Vesuvianite
stock #18.AX-509
Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Sierra Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
7.3 x 6 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $80
Blocky habit Vesuvianite crystals that are doubly terminated are studding a contrasting Rhyolite matrix. From very old finds at the locality once called Lago de Jaco, now Sierra de la Cruz. The Vesuvianites are well exposed from the matrix and are nearly all bi color. This habit of Vesuvianite was collected before 1980, there have been no more in recent years.
Vesuvianite with Grossular
stock #18.1-297
Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Sierra Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
7.3 x 5.7 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $1250
Late Summer 2018
A killer, this is a superb Vesuvianite from the long past "Lago de Jaco" finds at what is now known as Sierra de las Cruces. Better in person, this is the best specimen we have seen available and is an important piece for several reasons. Large (5 CM) translucent and complete Vesuvianites in an esthetic cluster sprinkled with Grossular crystals. The Garnets are zoned and some have a distinct purple color which is very rare. These were found in the 1955-70 era and not of any quality since. Top shelf esthetics, unusually bright luster, complex face geometry, clear edge modifications and unusually well defined crystal architecture. Several terminations have a yellow-green zoning that highlights complex growth structures and are very eyecatching.
Vesuvianite - textbook crystals on matrix
stock #AX-19-252
Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Sierra Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
8.7 x 4.4 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $110
Spring 2017
These Vesuvianites are nearly all equant, doubly terminated with a textbook form. Well-exposed by etching from contrasting white matrix these are a pleasing golden hue with lustrous surfaces. Back in the 70s these were all labeled Lago de Jaco, but now the correct locale is known to be Sierra de Las Cruz. Most crystals are quite perfect but several have cracked and rehealed or have cracked and split apart while inside the matrix. A good example with many small crystals up to 8MM.
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