Hematite with Andradite

Unknown Owner

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When these Hematites were first discovered at the Wessels Mine some 40 or so years ago in the mid-1980s, they immediately became classics. Their large size and association with red Andradite Garnet made them highly collectible. There are at least a half-dozen large, shiny metallic, tabular, well-formed, nearly hexagonal crystals of Hematite in parallel or nearly parallel growth that have a glistening, brick-red, "sugar coating" of very fine Andradite Garnets on one preferred surface. The Hematite crystals are complete with only a trace of contacting on the edges and then on the bottom where it was removed from the pocket. These are amazing Hematites on their own, and the association makes them unique and sparkly. This 1980s find is now considered one of the major non-rhodochrosite finds for the Kalahari Manganese Field and for Africa in general. This large specimen came from the Charlie Key collection, which we purchased in the early 2010s. The only difficulty with the piece, is deciding which side you like better for display - they are both good, and yet different!