Maryland produces so few mineral specimens, I never expected to be holding a garnet from here. I had once read about them (MR vol 17 #2, pages 127-128) but never seen one for sale. This piece features a very intensely colored, wine-red garnet crystal of 2.3 cm, which is mostly complete but just has a small impact fracture on the lower periphery, and two shallow scratches or contacts atop one face. A nice accent is the super-sharp and geometric 1 cm crystal perched above. From the extensive garnet collection of David Bristol.Joe Budd Photo