Andradite var: Melanite

Item Description

Please note that although this specimen is listed as coming from "Imilchil", this is not correct as mindat.org states, "None of the minerals labelled as coming from 'Imilchil' has actually been found in the market town of Imilchil or nearby in Imilchil Cercle, but in fact in several localities in the neighboring Agoudim Caïdat, Midelt Cercle, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco". With that said, we believe this specimen is from the Agoudim are, as there are some others listed in mindat's database that are similar. This piece is a beautiful and showy example of Melanite, a black titanium-bearing variety of Andradite Garnet, featuring several well-formed, striated, dark brownish-black crystals measuring up to 2.9 cm across with what appear to be tiny Epidote crystals, on minor matrix. The habit of the Garnets is a beautiful combination of dodecahedral and trapezohedral faces. A few contacts are visible, so the piece isn't pristine, but it's still very presentable, and I love how the biggest crystal sits prominently atop the specimen.