Spessartine

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This is a very sharply crystallized example of gem spessartine garnet, from famous finds now more than 20 years ago at this small garnet claim in Minas Gerais. It is a perfect floater, complete all around and with no damage. It has a very interesting shape, with a central cavity. Being thin, relatively, it transmits light very well and is so much gemmier and brighter than most examples in this size (when mounted on display, so light can pass through). You do not need any strong backlight, it glows even in room light. Most of these are so etched, you cannot see the original garnet faces but this retains clear and large faces from the original crystal- these were exposed to hot solutions after forming in the pockets, and that created this mesmerizing surface patterning! Too much, is ugly. Too little, is boring. This is just right! It is unusually lustrous and sparkly for a specimen of this size, just over 2 inches. Most examples of this quality came out between the late 1990s and early 2000s.