Spessartine Garnet "finger" on Smoky Quartz

Item Description

Spessartines with Smoky Quartz from Tongbei have been some of the most attractive and highly displayable specimens to come out of China. This small cab features several Smoky Quartz crystals (one is missing, and hardly noticeable) that are covered to the hilt with what can only be described as classic Tongbei Spessartines. That is, they are deep orange, lustrous, and have striations that are nothing short of spectacular. This material is becoming less and less available on the market, and keep in mind that there are only a few worldwide localities that produce this color of Spessartine in fine specimens. Quality orange Spessartine specimens are NOT easy to find these days from any locality. THis is from the collection of the mine-owning family from the early 2000's era here. Although collecting continues in other nearby mines, a few kilometers away, this particular mine is defunct. A particularly attractive specimen!