Grossular on Diopside
stock #22.1-342
VAG Mine, Lowell & Eden
Vermont,
United States
3.3 x 3.1 x 2.4 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $850
Vivid, bright red Garnets are clustered on contrasting dark green Diopside crystals. The famed location of "Eden Mills" (actually Lowell and Eden in Vermont) is the site of the VAG Mine that long ago produced some of the very best Grossular Garnets ever found in the USA. The mine has been closed for decades and certainly will never reopen. Such specimens are now rare and often incredibly expensive if with any sort of decent quality. This is a very nice piece, perfect except for some very tiny rough edge spots on some minor crystals best seen by loupe. By naked eye it seems fully perfect. Bright luster and color, the Garnets have considerable gem transparent areas.
Elbaite - Etched scepter crystal
stock #24.1-243-(DK)
Barra do Salinas Mining District, Coronel Murta
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.1 x 1.6 x 1.4 (thumbnail)
price: $2990
A very sharp, gem clear and vivid color scepter Tourmaline of the type that made Barra do Salinas famous. This is an older piece and in person far more gemmy and bright than most that are on the market today. It is certainly competition grade and stands out from most others of this material. The stem is well-etched and is also transparent seen through the complex striations. Super esthetic with a bright green cap that contrasts beautifully with the white, pink and red stem. This is still small enough to be a thumbnail but just barely. It is complete, undamaged, doubly terminated and has a display impact much bigger than the small size.