Description
SPESSARTINE CRYSTALS
This is the large orange spessartine crystals in pegmatite. Dimensions: 5.1 x 4.6 x 2.8″ (13 x 11.6 x 7.2cm). Weight – 2.7lb (1217 grams). Origin: Russia, Transbaikalia.
Some information about spessartine:
Spessartine, sometimes mistakenly referred to as spessartite, is a nesosilicate, manganese aluminium garnet species. The mineral spessartine should not be confused with a type of igneous rock (a lamprophyre) called spessartite.
Spessartine’s name is a derivative of Spessart in Bavaria, Germany, the type locality of the mineral. It occurs most often in granite pegmatite and allied rock types and in certain low-grade metamorphic phyllites.
Spessartine, like the other garnets, always occurs as a blend with other species. Gems with high spessartine content tend toward a light orange hue, while almandine prevalence induces red or brownish hues.
