Andradite Garnet (Geode / "Coconut") (new find)

Item Description

In 2017 there was a small discovery of these unique Garnets, and our source in Peru has already told us that the locality is finished, so no more specimens will be found. We were fortunate enough to pick up a small parcel of these specimens when they were available. The pieces are referred to as "coconuts" by the locals who found them because they actually formed in hollow geode-shaped "balls". These piece were cracked open and revealed many layered generations of Garnet, often showing multiple colors. This piece features dark reddish-brown trapezohedral crystals of Andradite with dodecahedral modification which are associated with abit of white Quartz and green Epidote here and there. The underside / reverse side of the piece actually shows another deposition of the same reddish-brown colored crystals, but if you look at the edges where the piece was broken open, you can see a mix of golden, green and brownish banding. The largest crystal on the specimen measures 1.8 cm across. This is certainly unusual and unique when it comes to Garnet, and would make a great addition to any collection of Peruvian minerals, worldwide Garnets or mineral oddities.