Spessartine Garnet

Item Description

A highly aesthetic Spessartine Garnet specimen from what is labeled as the "Erdbebenzone" (Earthquake Zone) from 2002 in the Astore area. The piece is a bit different from other Pakistani Spessartines we've seen as the color has a bit more of an orange overtone, than just pure red. The crystal itself measures 2.1 cm, and features excellent, highly lustrous, textbook dodecahedral faces with trapezohedral modifications, aesthetically perched atop a matrix comprising silvery bladed groups of Muscovite. If you look closely, you'll see the Garnet is perched on a slim black prismatic crystal of Schorl, and there are a few scattered Albite crystals for a nice touch. There is an exposed point in the center of the Garnet crystal which is NOT damage, but rather an irregular/interrupted growth, as it has lustrous, striated dodecahedral crystal faces, that are easily seen with a loupe. My guess is that this portion of the crystal grew against the pocket wall or another Garnet, separated at some point, and finished crystallizing, so it's essentially "re-healed" as some would say. The overall aesthetic and wonderful associations make it a very desirable piece for any fan of Garnets, Pakistani minerals or specimens from pegmatite localities. Valued at $1,500-$1,800. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#108 AP), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the next two to three years through our various platforms.