T08-40
Spessartine Garnet (521 Grams!)
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Cabinet, 9.5 x 5.6 x 5.5 cm
SOLD
At about half a kilo, this is one of the largest, best, and complete floaters of spessartine that I have seen from these finds which have now trickled out for several years. Most of this size are squashed or for some reason lacking in top luster. Not this one! The whole crystal is glassy and gemmy with a rich reddish-orange color and gem highlights at the edges even in minimal lighting. It is extremely thick, more so than almost any other from here I have seen, and so the translucence is obviously more prominent at the edges but even there it is visible without extreme backlighting. I also particularly like the dramatic growth striations which, because of the size of the piece overall, are so visually impactful. There are also a few colorless quartz crystals at the base of the specimen (or the top, as it is a floater and can display from any angle at all!). Overall, a remarkable piece with exceptional quality even amidst the crowd. MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE in person.