Spessartine Garnet on Fluorapatite

Unknown Owner

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This is a very unusual garnet crystal! There are what looks like two, orange-red, ELONGATED Spessartine Garnet crystals growing on a central stalk of pale yellow-white Fluorapatite at the core of the piece. The Spessartine crystals are rather large at almost two centimeters in maximum dimension and the luster is excellent in these almost fiery orange-red crystals. There is approximately a 2:1 length to width elongation of the Garnet crystals which is VERY unusual for Spessartine and the Garnet Group in general! The Fluorapatite core measures about 2mm in diameter and can be observed at both ends and in the interior of the crystal when backlit! What a unique piece and very attractive! Ex. Bill Larson garnet collection with display base and label. Formerly in the well-known garnet collection of Bill Larson (which I bought long ago), displayed prominently for 20 years or more at his store in Fallbrook, California. This is a superb miniature, dramatic in display and interesting because it is hard to explain how it formed.