Andradite Garnet (var: Demantoid)

Item Description

Around 2005, there was a discovery of some really attractive Andradite Garnets (var: Demantoid) in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan. Typically people associated Demantoid with either Russia, Italy or the recent Madagascar material, but the Afghani specimens are certainly worthwhile. This attractive small cabinet display specimen hosts sharp, highly lustrous, translucent, bright green dodecahedral crystals of Demantoid measuring up to 5 mm on matrix. I have noticed that these crystals actually display a color change from a "mint green" color to a rich "lime green" in different lighting. You can see more of a pastel hue under halogen lights, but I put them under mercury bulbs, and the color is very intense ! If you collect Garnets or minerals of Afghanistan, this is a great piece to add to your collection. Very good quality for Demantoid regardless of the locality.