Updated 1d ago

Andradite

$400.00

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Although known historically, specimens of garnet from the Banat Mountains in far western Romania are now rarely seen available for sale, or in collections. This very old specimen which was formerly in the collections of the Mineralogical Institute at the University of Vienna even refers to its locality as in 'Ungarn' (Hungary) showing that it dates back to the days of the Hungarian, or Austro-Hungarian empire. Recorded on its original label as from "Csiklova", that Ciclova deposit is dominated by dark green Grossular garnet and Wollastonite has not been identified there. Instead, it is more likely that the original provenance was confused with another locality some 20 miles to the north - Ocna de Fier - where Andradite occurs in association with Wollastonite. Either way, it is a really fine, well-crystallized garnet from this interesting region, with several excellent, classically-shaped very dark brown undamaged 3-dimensional crystals, the largest reaching over 1 cm in diameter on a white Wollastonite matrix with a little Quartz. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).