Spessartine from USA, California, Little Three Mine - image 1

Spessartine from USA, California, Little Three Mine

Christopher Wentzell
Christopher Wentzell
South Dakota, USA
0 for sale·5 sold

Orange Spessartine Garnet on bladed Albite var Cleavelandite, from the Hercules Dike, Little 3 Mine, Ramona, San Diego County, California. Also some micro black tourmaline associated. About 2.5 inches across. Christopher Wentzell collection.

Product details

Species
Spessartine, CleavelanditeAbout Spessartine →
Added on04/26/2026
Locality
USA, California, Little Three MineRegional guide →

Learn more

Mineral guide
Learn about Spessartine
(Mn3Al2Si3O12) is the vivid orange garnet prized for gemmy, sharp crystals and brilliant luster; forms with smoky quartz and feldspar.
Spessartine
Regional guide
Spessartine from Little Three Mine, USA
Little Three Mine spessartine is one of the great American pegmatite classics: saturated orange garnet set against white cleavelandite, black schorl, and sometimes smoky quartz. The finest pieces have a look that is immediately recognizable—warm, glowing orange dodecahedral to trapezohedral crystals perched in a graphic, high-contrast San Diego County pegmatite matrix. For collectors, the appeal is not only the color but the entire assemblage: orange spessartine, snowy bladed albite, and jet-black tourmaline in a compact, sculptural pocket specimen.