Passed on from a older mineral collection, this is truly a very fine example of the Jeffrey Mine Grossular Garnets that are becoming so very rare these days. Featuring several exquisitely formed crystals on matrix, as you can see two of the Grossular crystals are the stars of the show. They are a nice big size for the species measuring up to 1.5 cm on the largest crystal, and 1 cm for the second largest. It doesn't end there though, for the quality of the color is unbelievably beautiful!

The color as you can see in the photographs is a very desirable deep cinnamon - orange. Combined with perfectly faceted trapezohedron crystals that are so transparent, you can actually see through to the matrix of this gorgeous miniature. The Garnets lay on a covering of smaller, white to clear, Diopside crystals which in turn are laying on the majority of the Granitic matrix.

The Jeffrey Mine has produced some of the finest garnets on the planet, and now that it is closed, many of these beauties are not in circulation -- driving up the prices. It is difficult enough finding these specimens, and the very few that I have seen out there for sale pale in comparison to this gem. This delightful miniature specimen is a winner in any collection!

Now here's a very nifty and unusual specimen from the Elmwood mine. This top shelf miniature features a wonderful collection of over two dozen perfectly formed golden Calcite crystals scattered on shiny Sphalerite.

This specimen is so clean and lustrous...it just shines! I just found it to be so different than the larger Calcite specimens associated with this locale that it caught my eye. It is great seeing perfect smaller scalenohedral crystals -- too cute. The color is very rich, and the glassy crystals are perfectly terminated. Many have double terminations, and are quite transparent.

Talking to several of my colleagues at the Tucson show this year I have come to find out that the Elmwood mine did not reopen as expected. Unfortunately it seems that after quite a concerted effort and many millions of dollars, the attempt was abandoned. So that means more of these beauties will not be coming out in the foreseeable future.

A real gem of a miniature, and a custom base specifically designed to display the specimen optimally is included.

Impressively poised, this very large Spessartine crystal is laced with Albite, and sits on a pedestal created by intricately laced books of Muscovite crystals. The lustrous Spessartine exhibits a very rich, deep red wine color, that really comes to life under display lighting.

Note in the photo to the left, the well defined hexagonal Muscovite crystals. The supports on the back side of the custom display stand (included with this specimen), really sets off this specimen to display perfectly.

Overall, this specimen is just one very beautiful, and complex sculpture! Looks great in person. Spessartine is a rarer variation of Garnet. Specimens that come out of Northern Pakistan with this crystal size are even rarer!