$450Median
110Sold (12 mo)
$225Last sale
Andradite var. Demantoid
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The green chromium-rich variety of Andradite, called Demantoid, is one of the rarer varieties of garnet seen worldwide. In Europe, the Lomdardy region of northern Italy is one of the classic sources. Well-formed gemmy Demantoid crystals are rare, and rarer still on matrix. This small cabinet specimen is a very fine example of this rarity for display, featuring many (over 30) individual dodecahedral gooseberry to lime-green crystals ranging from 9 to 1 mm in size (the average being 4 to 5 mm) on a flat surface of serpentine with a thin film of fibrous Chrysotile. The Demantoid crystals are translucent and gemmy with a slightly resinous lustre. The back of the specimen has been sawn to allow it to stand nicely for display. It is from the Malenco Valley in Sondrio Province where there were numerous Serpentine quarries. Two accompanying labels reveal that was formerly in the collection of Professor Dr. H. Siegmund in Vienna having been acquired by him in 1958. His label simply places it as "Val Malenco, but an earlier handwritten label more specifically states: "v. Francia bei Lanzada, Val Malenko LOMBARDEI" - Franscia being a small valley near to the village of Lanzada. A very fine older specimen with great provenance from this classic European area for Demantoid.
Product details
Current owner
Unknown Owner
- Acquired
- Jul 2026
- Price paid
- $3,000.00
Previous owners
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| — | Crystal Classics | Not disclosed |
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Mineral guide
Learn about Andradite
vivid demantoid greens, topazolite yellows, and melanite blacks; sharp, fire-filled crystals with skarn associations and strong collecting value.Regional guide
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