Andradite with Epidote and Diopside

Item Description

For some time, we were told that these Andradites were coming out of Pakistan, but several individuals have confirmed that they are indeed from the Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan. Despite the fact that this province is incredibly well-known for its pegmatite minerals (Tourmaline, Spodumene, etc.), these specimens are actually from a metamorphic skarn deposit. These are some of the recognizable Garnets around, and the beautiful contrasting colors of the various associated species make for some eye-catching specimens. This piece hosts a few sharp, lustrous, rich red-brown, well-formed dodecahedra of Andradite which are associated with yellow-green colored Epidote and blue-green Diopside with "rosettes" of black-green Clinochlore ("Chlorite") on matrix. The largest Andradite measures 6 mm across, and most of them are damage free. An attractive association specimen from this interesting occurence in Afghanistan.