SOLD Spessartine - etched gem crystal
stock #SOLD 22.1-353
Navegadora Mine, Penha do Norte, Conseheiro Pena, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.3 x 2.4 x 2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $0
Spring 23
Complete and perfect, a large thumbnail of pure Spessartine with some very tiny spots of Quartz. The geometric structures and crystalline forms on the faces are sharp and complex. No chipping at all on any parts. The color is a rich, vibrant red and the luster is like glass. The finds at Navegadora are sporadic and sometimes years go by between pockets. The value of these as facet gem rough keeps the availability of good pieces for collectors low. This piece from the most recent find is 19.5 grams of choice gem grade that is also with a perfect form. I selected only a few specimens in Brazil from a large lot of freshly dug Garnet, these were the best seen there.
Spessartine on Microcline
stock #6.2-123
Tongbei, Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou Prefecture
Fujian Province,
China
6.2 x 5.2 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $850
Spring 23
Unusually huge and fine Spessartine crystals from this famed locale. Garnets from Tongbei (China) had a huge impact in the mineral world when they first appeared. They are still highly regarded and have become scarce in good quality. This is from the early finds and has the largest complete crystal we have seen, over 2.2 CM across. Normally anything over 1-1.2 CM is considered huge from here. In perfect shape, sawn on the bottom side where removed and with two generations of Spessartine. This is very different from the typical material from this famed locality. Excellent luster, sharpness and a giant crystals. It is impossible to find anything like this now on the market.
Spessartine on Orthoclase
stock #19.1-433
Vorondolo Pegmatite District
Antananarivo Province,
Madagascar
3.1 x 2.6 x 2.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $60
Spring update
Thumbnail specimen of Spessartine Garnet on a partial there is only a contact on the back. A nice locality piece from this Pegmatite area, and a well-exposed crystal with nice form.
SOLD Spessartine - etched gem crystal
stock #SOLD 22.1-352
Navegadora Mine, Penha do Norte, Conseheiro Pena, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.7 x 3.2 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $0
Spring 23
A killer etched Spessartine with rich color and super form. In fine condition the etched geometric structures are sharp, complete, translucent to transparent and have glassy luster. Aside from a few small Quartz crystals attached, this is pure garnet that looks great from any angle and all of facet quality gem. The super bright luster is very hard to capture in a photo, in person it really glows. The amazing Spessartines of the Navagadora Mine have long been highly prized, they are unique worldwide. The finds from here are sporadic, and never large, it is not common to find one so perfect, sharp and well composed. With backlighting this looks like pure red glass. 36 grams.
Spessartine with Helvite crystals
stock #13.1-113
Tongbei, Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou Prefecture
Fujian Province,
China
10.4 x 7.8 x 5.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
Post Tucson 2022
A larger cabinet specimen vintage 2012 from the early amazing finds at Tongbei. Sharp gemmy Spessartine Garnets are almost completely covering the underlaying Feldspar matrix. Set in the middle of the bright orange Garnets are several dark octahedral crystals of Helvite up to just over 2 CM. These are perfect and complete though slightly crude in habit. The overall display surface is very three dimensional, has bright luster on the Garnets and with a more dull luster on the Helvite making a nice contrast. In excellent condition, no naked-eye visible damage to be found. This find was a major discovery in the mineral world, it was at one time a very productive locality but today there is almost nothing and we are told it is or soon will be full exhausted. The better Helvites were always especially desirable and most sought after when in a combination specimen.
Spessartine - etched gem crystal
stock #21.FC-007
Navegadora Mine, Penha do Norte, Conseheiro Pena, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.8 x 2.8 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $1600
Early summer 2021
A very lustrous, complete Spessartine crystal with a tiny sliver of Albite attached. From the unique and world famed Navegadora claim in Minas Gerais, this is completely etched and recrystallized with fine geometric structures on all sides. In person this looks like red glass. Fully gemmy and transparent, when backlit the entire piece glows a brilliant red. In super condition, a very close exam finds only a very small rough edge that is not seen from most any angle, this is essentially a perfect floater. The etching has gone so far as to create small geometric cavities and tunnels through the mass of the Garnet. A modern classic, 30.2 Grams and all gem.
Spessartine on Smoky Quartz
stock #20.1-204
Tongbei, Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou Prefecture
Fujian Province,
China
7.7 x 3.4 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $490
Early summer 2021
Bright orange-red Spessartines on all sides of a single Quartz crystal. A modern classic from Tongbei (China); when first found these were huge mineral news, unlike anything else known before. For a few years ago these were fairly common in the mineral market but as the zone became exhausted there are almost none found now. The prices have also been increasing. This specimen has larger than typical Garnets with the crystals reaching to 7 mm. Excellent condition and esthetics, the color and luster are a bit brighter in person.
Spessartine on Galena - classic
stock #19.1-786
Broken Hill, Yancowinna County
New South Wales,
Australia
6.3 x 3.7 x 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $650
new year 2021
A cluster of dark red Spessartine crystals on a Galena matrix showing bright luster. The Garnets are up to 1.8 CM across and most show some distinct separation. The backside of the specimen has breakage where it was removed but the display face is quite good with only minimal bruising seen by loupe. These are remarkable specimens the association of a Garnet family specie intergrown with Lead Sulphide is simply bizarre. This specimen dates from the early 1960's the Garnets are translucent to transparent but overall are an opaque wine red. On a few edges the interiors of the Garnets have a slightly orange color that shows through and may look like damage in photos, in person it does not.
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