Epidote with Andradite and Diopside

Item Description

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 lesser known Epidotes from this area, as most people associate Epidote with Pakistan. This piece has some of the most robust and attractive Epidote crystals that I've seen from Marki Khel. There are dozens of sharp, lustrous, green (more golden in different lighting), gemmy, well-formed compressed blocky crystals of Epidote with greenish-blue Diopside and reddish-brown Andradite. The largest Epidote measures 1.6 cm across, but please keep in mind that several of them are unfortunately contacted, so the piece is not 100% prisinte. An attractive small cabinet specimen from this interesting occurence in Afghanistan.