Chondrodite with Spinel

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Superficially, this assemblage of minerals looks very similar to the combination of Franklinite (black), Zincite (red) and Calcite (white) from Franklin, New Jersey, USA, but is actually Spinel (black), Chondrodite (red) and Calcite (white) from a mysterious occurrence in the mountains of northern Afghanistan. As is so often the case with remote mountainous regions, the precise source of mineral specimens and crystals is fraught with error and inconsistency. Labelled as from Khandjee, Koksha Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan, this site has never been pinned down on a map. Specimens of this assemblage came to the mineral market between 2008 and 2011 but in quite limited numbers and quality, and the supply soon stopped. This superb miniature specimen is one of the best that we have seen from this find and comes from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021). Upon it, a 1.8 cm wide very dark blue-grey to black Spinel crystal sits prominently on top with many faces showing. Its form is not a straightforward octahedron, but more complex. It has very slight chipping to one or two corners, but is a really significant sized Spinel crystal and is in overall fine display condition. The Chondrodite crystals are smaller but nicely formed and present a really rich burgundy-red colour. Calcite forms the host, providing a lovely bright white contrast and showing as rhombic cleavage surfaces.