Grossular var. Rosolite

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The pink Grossular garnets from Sierra de Cruces, Mun. de Sierra Mojada, Coahuila, Mexico hold a somewhat legendary status in the mineral collecting world. Their colour, caused by traces of Mn3+, is so distinctive that when they were first discovered in the 1950s it was decided that a false locality needed to be given to prevent a rush of collectors descending upon the site. So, they were claimed to be from Lake Jaco and old labels from that time still turn up. This variety of Grossular, named Rosolite, remains unique to this one locality. This rather attractive miniature specimen features a single, well-formed raspberry pink-red Grossular crystal, reaching 1.6 cm across, on a contrasting white matrix. This crystal has excellent glassy surfaces with just minor chipping along the edges, and displays really nicely.