1.8" Andradite Garnets on Calcite - China

Here is a beautiful 1.8" wide specimen that contains an aggregation of andradite garnets that formed in a calcite matrix, collected from China. Under short wave UV, the calcite matrix fluoresces a vibrant orange color.

Calcite, CaCO3, is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Calcite crystals are trigonal-rhombohedral, though actual calcite rhombohedra are rare as natural crystals. However, they show a remarkable variety of habits including acute to obtuse rhombohedra, tabular forms, and prisms. Calcite exhibits several twinning types adding to the variety of observed forms. It may occur as fibrous, granular, lamellar, or compact. Cleavage is usually in three directions parallel to the rhombohedron form.

Garnets are nesosilicates with the general formula X3Y2(SiO4)3. Garnets come in many species, including pyrope, almandine (the most common species), spessartine, uvarovite, andradite and grossular, varieties of which are hessonite, cinnamon-stone, and tsavorite. Garnets are found in a wide variety of colors including red, orange, yellow, green, purple, brown, blue, black, pink, and colorless, though reddish shades are the most common.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Garnet var. Andradite & Calcite
LOCATION
China
SIZE
1.8 x 1.4"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#128872