Pyrope Garnet (Anthill Garnet) (ex Marvin Rockey estate)

Item Description

These gorgeous Garnets are some of the most famous gems from any US locality. They have a cool combination of beautiful color and also a unique name. The stones are called "Anthill Garnets" due to the fact that they are found on and around the debris piles surrounding ant hills near the tiny town of Sawmill which is a part of Fort Defiance Agency on the Navajo Nation land. Essentially, the ants will remove the little Garnet crystals from underground while building their passages for the colony. On a sunny day, you can find hundreds of glowing red treasures on the surface near an anthill if you're in the right spot. These stones have been analyzed and confirmed as Pyrope Garnet, but they have a dynamic fiery red hue that's as fine as any Garnet species you'll find. This beautiful "Round Brilliant" gem has slight inclusions and is a wonderful example of these beloved stones. Garnet is the birthstone for January, so this could make a great gift for anybody with a January birthday. This stone, as with others we will be presenting here, is from the estate of former Phoenix area dealer Marvin Rockey. Rockey's Gems was a significant business in the early days of Arizona lapidary material, and he was a prominent dealer and buyer in the Arizona area of local lapidary and carving material from throughout the state, along with material from Mexican localities. This stone was kept back from the retail stock for its quality and beauty, in a tray of special gems, and was found in his estate (sold to us only recently). Today, these are not only rarely seen but of a highly desirable old quality, and sought after by collectors and gem / jewelry enthusiasts alike.