Grossular (var: Hessonite) with Diopside (ex Rich Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

Here's a great European Alpine "classic". One of the most recognized associations from the Alps are the beautiful red Grossular and green Diopside combinations from the Italian Alps. This piece features many superb, sharp, lustrous, gemmy reddish-orange color dodecahedral crystals with trapezohedral modifications of Grossular (variety: "Hessonite") with soft green prismatic crystals of Diopside on matrix. The largest Hessonite measures up to 3 mm across, and the largest Dioside measures 2.1 cm long. A very attractive and fine quality large miniature / small cabinet specimen for anyone interested in Italian Alpine mineral specimens, or worldwide Garnets. This piece comes from the collection of Richard A. Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado, who specialized in (among other things) European Alpine minerals. Rich was also the namesake for the phosphate species Kosnarite.