significant pocket Andradite Garnet and Calcite with Willemite (rare for locale)

Item Description

Franklin is world-renowned for its incredible suite of fluorescent minerals, and here we have both Calcite and Willemite acting in the supporting role for a cluster of SUPERB Andradite Garnets that range up to 4.7 cm in size. The Andradites have excellent form, high luster, and deep red color with alluring internal reflections. These are among the best, if not the best, Garnets I have seen from Franklin for sharpness and quality of preservation in a very rough environment, and they almost look as if they were sculpted from metallic cinnamon. This is because this is a pocket growth specimen, where the crystals grew into open space and were never coated with a matrix that has to be removed by physical or chemical means. It is a significant specimen in that regard but also displays well: This is a great combination piece, with excellent Andradites accompanied by Calcite that fluoresces red and a whisp of Willemite with its classic neon-green fluorescence. The largest Garnet is contacted along the back and top, but otherwise complete and overall the great aesthetics, particularly with the smaller, sharp, and lustrous Andradites to complement, make this an imposing, significant addition to any Franklin suite. One of the higher valued items of a common species in a large collection of "esoteric" Franklin rarities that have, often, even higher values. There are so few of these for sale, It is hard to even place a guidance value upon this.