Detailed information
Species
Grossular
Dimensions
34 x 38 x 27
mm
Weight
49 g
Locality
Belvidere Mountain Quarries Lowell & Eden, Orleans & Lamoille Cos. Vermont, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
Closed in 1993, the Belvidere Mountain quarries in northern Vermont were once (1930s) the largest Chrysotile asbestos producers in the USA. During the 1960s to 1980s sporadic discoveries of exceptionally gemmy Grossular garnet (the variety Hessonite) were made in the many openpits across the area and the best specimens are regarded as some of the finest gem garnets known from the USA. Specimens were never common, nor large, and are now very rarely seen available for sale. This superb miniature-sized Grossular from Belvidere Mountain quarries is not only a quite significant size compared with what is known, but is also covered on the front and back with extremely richly coloured deep orange, gemmy crystals, displaying excellent glassy crystal faces and beautiful internal details. These crystals exceptionally reach 9 mm across. There is slight bruising to a few crystals, but this is such a rare, and otherwise very high quality crystallized Grossular from this famous Vermont locality that it is an exciting prospect to own.