Andradite Garnet on Epidote

Item Description

You might see specimens from this locality labeled as coming from Pakistan, because that's what we were told when they first started coming out. Since the initial discovery in the 1990s, 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 quite distinctive Garnets in terms of their color and associations. The beautiful contrasting colors of the various associated species make for some eye-catching specimens. This piece hosts a couple sharp, lustrous, dark reddish-brown, well-formed dodecahedra of Andradite which are associated with yellow-green colored Epidote plus minor white Quartz on matrix. The largest Andradite measures 7 mm across. An attractive association specimen from this interesting occurrence in Afghanistan.