Spessartine with Smoky Quartz on Albite (ex Bill Larson Collection)

Item Description

The Pack Rat Mine has produced some attractive red Spessartine Garnet specimens over the years, but you typically only see crystals on Albite with no other associations. THIS piece stands out because it has the distinction of hosting several good quality, sharp, lustrous gemmy Smoky Quartz crystals, which is rarely seen in association with Spessartines in my experience with this locality. The largest Smoky Quartz crystal is actually doubly-terminated, and is nearly water clear in areas. The Garnet crystals are sharp, well-formed, lustrous, gemmy trapezohedrons measuring up to 4 mm and the matrix is composed of blocky white Albite and etched tan Microcline on the base. Interestingly, there is a tabular hollow "cast" on the bottom of the specimen, but we have no idea how it could have formed. There are a few rough spots on the piece, so it's not 100% pristine, but the rare combo of Spessartine with Quartz makes up for it in my mind. From the collection of Bill Larson of Fallbrook, California. Bill is a well-known gem and mineral dealer as well as a miner and collector. Bill is synonymous with minerals of San Diego County, and owned and operated famous mines such as the Stewart Lithia, the Tourmaline Queen, the Pala Chief and the Himalaya, producing some of the most iconic mineral specimens to come out of the area during the 1970s-1980s. You can read his biography at https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/larsonwilliam-f/