Andradite Garnet var. Melanite

Item Description

Melanite is an uncommon black, titanium-rich, variety of andradite garnet. Splendent, sharp, jet-black crystals with brown highlights comprise this showy and excellent mounded specimen. The texbook, dodecahedral crystals reach 2.0 cm and even have moderate translucence. A bit of periphery wear is noted, but is certainly only a modest detraction visually from the front display. Highly representative material from this uncommon Mexican locale. Ex Dave Bristol Collection, noted for his garnet suite.