Spessartine on Feldspar with Quartz
Unknown Owner
Spessartine is one of the rarer garnets to form good crystals, either colourful, or large. However, as with anything in life, there are always exceptions. In this case it is the Wushan Spessartine mine near Tongbei in Fujian Province, China. As the name implies, it is a mine for Spessartine and it has produced some of the world's best crystals of this manganese garnet, as well as some of the most remarkable specimens. This particular piece is small cabinet in size and features crystals exceptionally to 1.4 cm across. However, most are 3 to 4 mm across and are extremely well formed, as trapezohedral crystals, and are very deep burgundy-red in colour and glossy. Under intense illumination these crystals brighten to a more orange-red colour. The matrix is Quartz-Feldspar which is somewhat dull and poorly crystallized, but it still presents a contrasting bright, creamy white backdrop upon which the dispersed Spessartine crystals really stand out, making for a very fine Spessartine display.
Product details
Species
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions7.1 x 7.9 x 4.8 cm
Added on05/21/2025
Known provenance
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| 06/2025 | Unknown Owner | $170.00 |
| — | Crystal Classics | Not disclosed |
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Mineral guide
Learn about Spessartine
(Mn3Al2Si3O12) is the vivid orange garnet prized for gemmy, sharp crystals and brilliant luster; forms with smoky quartz and feldspar.
Regional guide
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