Grossular var. Hessonite with Diopside - image 1

Grossular var. Hessonite with Diopside

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An absolute European classic and fine size specimen too. Glossy orange-red Hessonite (Grossular) garnets with pale green prismatic Diopside crystals are seen in most late 18th to early 19th century European mineral collections and are instantly recognizable as from Ala Valley in northern Italy. Indeed, in the early days the Diopside from there was given the name "Alalite". On this fine small cabinet specimen the Hessonite crystals are small (to 4 mm in diameter), but well-formed, and form an extensive crust accompanied by several glassy terminated prismatic Diopside crystals (to 9.5 mm). A fine European classic, collected in 1972 and formerly in the Mineralogical Museum at Humboldt University.

Product details

SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions7.0 x 4.3 x 4.0 cm
Added on03/05/2025
LocalityItaly, Piedmont
Current owner
Unknown Owner
Acquired
Jul 2026
Price paid
$250.00
Previous owners
DateCollectorAcquisition price
—Crystal ClassicsNot disclosed

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Grossular
Mineral guide
Learn about Grossular
calcium-aluminum garnet with emerald to tsavorite greens and hessonite oranges; dodecahedra/trapezohedra in skarns, prized for color and rarity.
Grossular
Regional guide
Grossular from Piedmont
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Locality guide
Piedmont
A collector's guide to Piedmont, Italy: its geology, mining history and notable minerals, illustrated with the 84 specimens documented from this locality on EarthWonders.