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Andradite A to M
Posted by Rock Currier
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Andradite A to M May 16, 2009 08:28AM |
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Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?
Andradite Display collections
Ca3Fe3+2[SiO4]3 Isometric, forms a series with Grossular and Schorlomite
Most garnets are identified by species based on comparison to other garnets that are know to be a particular species. Probably very few of the specimens pictured below have actually had their chemistries analysied by scientific testing to place them with certitude in the Andradite range of composition. In other words, a garnet specimens shows up and someone says, well it looks like an andradite garnet to me, and puts that label on them. A good recent example of this is the recent appearance on the market of garnets from the Kays region of Mali. To my knowledge, all the actual tests of them have shown them to be grossular garnets rather than andradite garnets whether they be green, reddish or black. Most prominent in the testing of thees garnets have been the Gemological Institute of America.1. In spite of this there is a tendency in the market place to market them as andradite garnets rather than grossular garnets. This stems from the urge of various dealers to maximize the value of their goods by giving a name to them that is associated with goods of higher perceived value. Its like selling Herkimer Diamonds rather than Quartz from New York. In this case the higher perceived value that the dealers are trying to cash in on is the green variety of Andradite garnet known as demantoid. So in other words, when you see a picture of a garnet specimen or one for sale on a dealers shelf, realize that it has in the great majority of the cases never been analyzed for exact elemental content and that there is at least the possibility that it may not actually be the garnet species stated on the label.
1. Gems & Gemology Volume XXXI (Fall 1995)
Many garnets are not found in open pockets, but in intimate contact and covered with other minerals and have to be "worked out of the matrix" to make desirable specimens. Collectors usually prefer those that are collected as free standing crystals in open pockets, but for garnets, more often than not they are enclosed in other minerals. Those that are found covered by other minerals tend to be not as lustrous or as free from damage as those that occur in open pockets. Andradite garnets are found in many different colors ranging from transparent green to amber colored, through the browns, tans and black colors. The most desirable are the green transparent ones that are given the varietal name of demantoid. These have been found at a number of localities. Probably the best known of them are from some of the Italian localities. But recently, the locality at Antetezambato (Tetezambato), Ambanja, Ambanja District, Diana (Northern) Region, Antsiranana Province, Madagascar (see example above) seems to have eclipsed the Italian localities in the race for the gold, but we show numerous examples from both and you can make up your own mind. Sometimes this color grades into a yellow green or amber color and this variety is usually given the name of topazolite which is an attempt to trade on the more valuable name of topaz. Some localities produce very black shiny garnets that are often high in titanium and these are given the name melanite.
The historical record lists other varietal names for andradite other than those listed below, but you will rarely see them in collections, especially American collections. The reason for this is partly because of nomenclature name changes and partly because the localities that produced these varieties are no longer active today. In addition many specimens of these varieties are rather unattractive, often rough and/or massive and not competitive with the much better specimens of andradite and other garnets that command the attention of collectors and museums today. Many of these once abundant specimens are from old localities and have been simply thrown away. Some of these varietal names are: allochroite, colophonite, rothoffite, polyadelphite, bredbergite, aplome etc.
There are many localities for andradite garnets and only a few of them are mentioned below. I hope I have mentioned those that are of most interest to collectors and have included your favorite andradite locality. I could really use some help here. If you could point me to good images from localities not mentioned here I would be appreciative.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Andradite
Afghanistan
Andradite
Afghanistan
Bamian Province (Bamyan Province; Bamiyan Province)
Andradite
Afghanistan
Ghazni Province (Gazni Province)
Andradite
Afghanistan
Nangarhar Province (Ningarhar Province), Khogyani District, Spin Ghar range (Speen Ghar range), Marki Khel
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Afghanistan
Nangarhar Province (Ningarhar Province), Khogyani District, Spin Ghar range (Speen Ghar range), Marki Khel
Andradite
Afghanistan
Nuristan, Spin Gar or Spin Tigga. no photos available
“These were reported to come from the Pak-Afghan border at Spin Gar or Spin Tigga which I believe means White Mountain and is near the famous (for Bin Laden) Tora Bora area. I don’t know which side of the border so I’ve always labeled them “Pakistan-Afghanistan border area”1. Dark greenish brown dodecahedrons of andradite, up to 3 cm associated with green epidote, clinochlore, diopside and calcite in matrix specimens up to about 15 cm. Similar specimens have been labeled Tribal Area, Pakistan. These two localities may be one and the same.
1. Herb Obodda, personal communication 2001.
Andradite
Afghanistan
Panjshir (Panjsheer) Province, Hessa-e-Say District, Panjsher (Panjshir) Valley, Kamar Saphet
We need someone to tell us about the garnets from this locality.
Andradite
Argentina
Mendoza, La Valenciana
These are probably not the best specimens that the locality produces. The first is really pretty good, but the second is probably not so good. But thats just an educated guess. We need someone to tell us about the locality and the garnets it produces.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Australia
Duckmaloi, near Oberon, NSW, Australia
A well known skarn deposits, although good specimens are uncommon. We need someone to tell us about this skarn and its garnet specimens.
Andradite
Australia
South Australia, Mt Lofty Ranges, South Mt Lofty Ranges, Millendella, Palmer
This small skarn deposit has produced many large and well formed melanites, but they are seldom seen in collections.
Andradite
Australia
Tasmania, Hampshire District, Kara Mines, Kara #1 Pit
Andradite
Australia
Tasmania, Hampshire District, Hampshire Mines
These magnetite mines produce some world class specimens of Andradite. The best specimens have pale brown to black crystals to 40mm: eg [www.mindat.org] and [www.mindat.org] . They are locally quite prolific in collections despite the mine owners trying to stop collecting and selling. The deposits are magnetite-andradite-vesuvianite skarns with complex mineralogies.
Andradite
Austria
Salzburg, Pinzgau
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Austria
Tyrol, East Tyrol, Virgen valley, Prägraten, Ströden, Gösleswand (Goslerwand)
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite garnets from this locality.
Andradite
Azerbaijan
Daşkəsən Daskasan; Dashkyasan) District, Dashkesan, Dashkesan (Dashkezan) Co-Fe deposit
The Jan/Feb 1989 Mineralogical Record p.74 (picture on p70) reports that some good specimens of translucent brownish red crystals from this locality were found in about 1987. They were not abundant. We need someone to tell us about the Andradite garnets from this locality.
Andradite
Canada
Quebec
Chaudière-Appalaches, Les Appalaches RCM, Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine, Mine Lac d'Amiante (Lake Asbestos mine; LAB mine; Black Lake mine)
Andradite
Canada
Alberta, Crowsnest Pass, Coleman no photos available
Good crystals are found on Highway 3 just west of the town limits. “Sharp black dodecahedral crystals of melanite to 7 mm weather out of the pink alkaline Crowsnest Volcanics. The contrast of the black crystals on a pinkish or olive-green matrix provides attractive cabinet and thumbnail specimens.”1
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 15, 1984, p93.
Andradite
Canada
Quebec, Mégantic Co., Thetford Mines
Andradite
Canada
Quebec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Appalaches RCM, Thetford Mines, Black Lake, British Canadian mine (B.C. 1 mine; B.C. 2 mine; Martin mine; Black Lake mine; American mine; Dauville mine)
Andradite
Canada
Quebec, Les Sources RCM, Estrie, Asbestos, Jeffrey mine (Jeffrey quarry; Johns-Manville mine)
The green variety of Andradite garnet is called demantoid and gems cut from this mineral have brought very high prices. Traditionally the green garnets from Asbestos have been analysed and found to be Grossular garnets and not Andradite. It is common to find people trying to sell any green garnet using the name demantoid even if it is not. When I first saw these garnets I thought that is was another case of someone trying to enhance the value of their specimens by trading on the more valuable name Demantoid. However, according to the captions under the full size image (click on the image to see the full size image) these garnets have been analysed and shown to be true Andradite var. demantoid. These were posted by Jordi Fabre, and I have confidence in his identification.
Andradite
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Andradite
Chile
Copiapo, Tierra Amarilla
This is a hill located in the Tierra Amarilla suburb of Copiapo and has has been the happy hunting grounds for generations of geology students of the local School of Mines. The black melanites found here are fairly sharp and fairly shiny. They occur in crystals up to about 5 cm and are not difficult to collect but fine specimens are not often found.
[Rock Currier, 2009]
Andradite
China
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture)
Andradite
China
Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region, Yili Hasake (Ili Kazakh) Autonomous Prefecture, Aletai (Altay) Prefecture, Andradite Skarn Locality
Andradite
Czech Republic
Moravia (Mähren; Maehren), Vysočina Region, Rožná deposit, Bukov Mine
Andradite
Finland
Etelä-Suomen Lääni, Helsinki, Pakila, Kehä I roadcut
The above specimen is from a road cut and not currently productive of specimens currently, but there are undoubtedly many more better ones in the ground.
[Jyrki Autio 2009]
Andradite
France
Midi-Pyrénées, Aveyron, Lapanouse-de-Sévérac (slag locality)
A very tiny specimen, a micromount in fact, but it was so juicy I could not resist including it here. We need someone to tell us about this locality and it andradite specimens.
Andradite
Germany
Kirchberg Quarry, Niederrotweil, Kaiserstuhl Mts, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
One classic German Locality, only mm-sized xls but very nice melanite: Kirchberg Quarry, Niederrotweil, Kaiserstuhl Mts, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Very good, lustrous xlsc of dark brownish garnet on bleached phonolite rock. Last year I discouvered a flat of specimen up to 15 cm, covered with hundreds of xls, outside the nature preservation area the quarry lies in, at a temporal outcrop.
[Sebastian Möller 2009]
These are the kind of things that are collected locally and are rarely circulated to collectors far afield. The local collectors appreciate them, but they are less appreciated out there in the real world where they have to compete with so many other better specimens
Andradite
Germany
Bavaria, Franconia, Oberkotzau, Münchberg Metamorphic complex, Wurlitz, Heß quarry
We need someone to tell us about the andradite specimens from this locality.
Andardite
Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate, Eifel Mts, Andernach, Eich, Nickenicher Sattel (Eicher Sattel)
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Breitenbrunn District, Breitenbrunn
Dana’s Text Book of Mineralogy, 4th edition p596 describes the andradites from here (var. aplome) as “yellowish and brownish green crystals”. The specimen pictured here is in the British Museum of Natural History and is more black than yellow or green. It is mostly a single crystal about 2 cm in diameter and is probably a pretty good specimen from this locality.
Here is some information about Breitenbrunn, Erzgebirge, Saxony, from Sebastian Möller: There are lot of skarns and calcsilicate rocks outcropping near the small town. They are formed from precambrian to cambrian marls and limestones intergrown with pelites during hercynian orogeny when a granite intruded. In late hercynian times another granite intruded the former and etamorphosed it to orthogneisses. In the calcsilicate rocks garnet (grossularite and andradite) are quite common, the andradite being greenish grew to brownish green mostly. Good nearly black, very dark brown combinations of icositetrahedron and rhombendodecahedron, the latter dominating, up to about 1 cm, are known from St. Margarethe Mine (an old magnetite mine with hydrothermal pitchblende and arsenic bearing veins, mined in th 19th century for uranium oxides (as glass colours) and magnetite, early 20th century (radium) and after WW II for uranium (soviet union)). East of Breitenbrunn, next to the village of Rittersgrün, brownish green icossitrahedrons up to about 2 cm have found at the St. Richard Mine.
Andradite
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Schwarzenberg District
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Greece
Aegean Islands (Aiyaíon) Department, ykládes Prefecture, Cyclade Islands (Cyclades; Kikladhes; Nomos Kikladhon), Serifos Island (Seriphos
A recent find of fine Andradite specimens, many associated with green Hedenbergite has been made on the Island of near Aghia Marina and Mega Xhorio. This locality has produced abundant specimens, most of them have been found by field collectors and they are not from an organized mining venture. They vary in color from black and brown to amber-yellow. Crystals typically occur in dodecahedrons and trapezohedrens. From Mega Xhorio, specimens of reddish brown andradite crystals to 33 cm across associated with slightly prismatic hedenbergite crystals have been found.1
1. Mineralogical Record, July/Aug 1991 p307.
Andradite
Greece
Thraki (Thrace; Thracia) Department, Kimmeria, Xánthi Prefecture
Andradite
Greenland
Gardner Complex
No photos available
Located on a nunatak beyond the head of the Kangerdlugssuaq Fiord in east Greenland. Titaniferous black andradites (melanite) occur in parts of this ultramafic alkaline intrusion. The crystals are a few cm in diameter “but in one case a crystal fragment shows a dimension of 12 cm across.”1 At one place in the complex “melanite in natrolite veins associated with calcite, phlogopite and sometimes diopside. Specimens of this type are very beautiful, with black shiny melanite crystals in a white natrolite matrix, the crystals being up to 2 cm. across..”1 . Specimens from here are not generally available because of the difficulty of reaching the locality and the small amount of time that anyone has spent there collecting specimens and then only scratching the surface. Few specimens collected thus far would excite collectors except in so far to hint at the amazing specimens that must certainly be there just waiting for those with enough courage, strength and the resources to get them.
The Gardner complex must be one of the remotest and most difficult localities on earth to collect. It can only be accessed by carefully planned expeditions by helicopter and then only during the short summer season, if the weather is good. “Good weather” almost always has gale force winds. If the weather turns bad and or the helicopter breaks down your life would be in jeopardy, for there is no way to walk out of the locality. One of the most eloquent description of the difficulties in working at this locality was; “Phlogopite is an abundant mineral in the complex and, due to the strong winds, this mineral, (and many others too) are also very abundant in the lower part of the atmosphere.”1 See the excellent article by Ole Johnsen, Ole Petersen in the Mineralogical Record.
1. Ole Petersen and Olaf Medenbach, The Gardner Complex, a New Locality in Greenland. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 16, 1985, p 485-92.
Andradite
Honduras
Santa Bárbara Department, El Mochito Mine
Andradite
Iran
Kangavar, Tang-e Ashin
Since I know about no other similar specimens from this locality I wonder if it might be rather from the Azerbaijan locality. But it is such a nice specimen I have decided to include it here until a knowledgeable person comes along and confirms or discredits the locality.
Andradie
Iran
Kerman Province, Baft District, Soghan
We need someone to tell us about the garnets from this locality. It would appear they hold great promise.
Andradite
Italy
Aosta Valley, Valtournanche Valley, Valtournanche, Gouffre de Bousserailles
Andradite
Italy
Latium, Rome Province, Alban Hills, Frascati
“Sharp melanite dodecahedrons to 5/8” diameter occur at Monte Somma, Vesuvius and at Frascati, Alban Hills near Rome”1 The crystals from Frascati pictured here are in the British Museum of Natural History and I suspect that at one time they were fairly abundant and at that time considered outstanding. By today’s standards they are more of a curiosity than high on the want lists of mineral collectors.
1. Sinkankas, Mineralogy p539.
Andradite
Italy
Latium, Viterbo Province, Onano, Montenero quarry
Andradite
Italy
Lombardy, Sondrio Province, Malenco Valley, Lanterna Valley, Campo Franscia, Franscia Mine
We need someone to tell us about this fine Andradite locality.
Andradite
Italy
Lombardy, Sondrio Province, Malenco Valley, Sferlun asbestos mine
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens that come from this locality.
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Provincd, Chisone Valley
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Sesia-Lanzo zone, Lanzo Valley, Ala Valley, Balme, Mussa Alp
The variety of andradite garnet that is most cherished by collectors and brings the highest prices come from Ala Valley, Piedmont. Most good dealers and collectors today call them by the varietal name of demantoid but Dana’s Text, 4th edition assigns them the varietal name topazolite. Good lustrous, translucent to transparent green dodecahedral crystals are found associated with white fibrous asbestos. Good crystals are rarely more than 12 mm in diameter. The best crystals have well developed faces but the crystals are often somewhat rounded. Some form complex crystals that look like little green raspberries. Fine specimens of this variety are very difficult to get. In 40 years I have not been able to get a good one, but then again I am a cheap skate. I once saw a beautiful complete single crystal of about 12 mm sell for about $500 before I could grab it up myself. Today I would think it would bring several thousand. But to get it you would at least have to outlive the current owner. The best miniature or small cabinet sized specimen will bring several thousand dollars if you can find one.
[Rock Currier 2009]
But! Harjo Neutkens wirtes: Rock, I think there's a mix up here.....to me the Andradite specimens in the article with the provenance Ala valley are actually pieces of Demantoite in Asbestos from Malenco valley, either from the Franscia or Sferlun mines. The Garnets from Ala valley are orange to red Grossular. Of course it might be the case that I don't know about an occurance of Demantoite in Asbestos in Ala valley but I'll eat my shoe (both...) if those specimens are not from Malenco valley. Is there some Italian specialist out there that can help us out here? Is the locality of these three specimens above screwed up?
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Susa Valley
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Susa Valley, Condove, Laietto (Lajetto)
We need someone to tell us about the specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Japan
Honshu Island, Kinki Region, Nara Prefecture, Yoshino-gun, Tenkawa village, Kohse mine
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality. Alfredo Petrov is a great fan of the "rainbow" andradite garnets from Nara Prefecture and notes that they are almost pure end member andradite. There was a fine one pictures on Rocks & Minerals special Japan issue cover.
Andradite
Kazakhstan
Kostanay Province (Qostanay Oblysy; Kostanai Oblast'), Sokolovskoe Iron Mine (Sokolovskiy Mine; Sokol'noye Mine)
Andradite
Madagascar
Antsiranana Province, Diana (Northern) Region, Ambanja District
Andradite
Madagascar
Antsiranana Province, Diana (Northern) Region, Ambanja District, Ambanja, Antetezambato (Tetezambato)
Andradite??
Mali
Kays Region
In the Kays region of Mali there are many small skarn deposits where garnet, prehnite and epidote specimens have been found. Initially there were some greenish garnets that were thought to be emeralds, but they were soon identified as garnets and of course they, in the absence of any scientific analysis were marketed as demantoid, topazolite or andradite garnets. At one point there were several thousand people digging for these hopping to make their fortune. Eventually the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) did a study on the garnets and all of the ones that they tested were on the grossular side of the grossular/andradite series. Some of the black garnets from the Kays Region of Mali have been tested and found to be Andradite.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
Chihuahua, La Prieta Mine
Andradite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Julimes, General Lázaro Cárdenas (Lázaro Cárdenas; Colonia Lázaro Cárdenas), Ojos Espanoles Mine
Tom Palmer, a mineral dealer in El Paso did a dig a this locality and produced several hundred Andradite specimens, with shiny free standing shiny black crystals to 4 cm. Specimens with larger crystals were found but were not of good quality. To my knowledge this was a dig that was done only for the specimens and was not the byproduct of a normal mining venture to produce a raw material for industry. More and more we are seeing this kind of operation. These specimens are probably better than the melanite specimens from San Benito County although not as sharp. I think the best of these sold for more than $1000. You can still buy good specimens of this material from time to time for less than $500.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Saucillo, Naica, Naica Mine
Andradite
Mexico
San Luis Potosí, Mun. de Charcas, Charcas, Morelos Mine
Andradite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Hermosillo, La Prietas, Prietas Mine
Andradite
Mexico
Sonora, Sierra Madre Mountains
No photos available
The crystals are yellow brown-olive green and are well formed mostly single crystals to about two cm in diameter. Some of them, especially when polished show a “bright flash of iridescence just under the surface on phantom trapezohedral faces. The flash varies from yellow to orange in most crystals, but is blue to green in others.”1 These crystals showed up at the 1972 Tucson Gem and Mineral show and were being sold exclusively by the “Rainbow Garnet” company. The owners gave the locality only in the most general terms since they apparently hoped to capitalize on the garnets in a big way and promote them as an exclusive gem material and sell them at dollars per carat. The sale of these garnets has apparently proved disappointing because they have vanished from the show circuit scene and I know of few collectors who bought any of these specimens.
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 25, 1994, p.215.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
South Central Mexico
No photo??? Perhaps I should not have included mention of this locality here since it is so nebulous.
Another locality given only in general terms because the promoters fear that giving a more nearly exact locality will endanger any exclusivity that they hope to profit from. The specimens are obviously from several related localities. “The andradite varies from greenish brown to a bright, clean green which gemologists might call demantoid. The crystals are generally to about 1 cm in size, vary from full dodecahedrons to full trapezohedrens and in some cases have hoppered faces. Crystals on matrix, individual or in clusters, are the common habit, but some peculiar spherical shells have also been recovered. The shells, up to perhaps 20 cm in diameter, are ovoid in shape and consist only of Andradite, with crystal faces showing on both the inside and outside surfaces.”1 These showed up at the 1985 Tucson show. Few of them have appeared on the market since then which would make me think that the cost of digging and marketing the specimens did not allow a profit. The image of a small specimen of “demantoids” from this locality is pictured in the Mineralogical Record, and would probably bring in $500 to $1000 or possibly more.
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 16, 1985, p 304.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
Zacatecas,Mun. de Concepción del Oro, Concepción del Oro
Andradite
Mexico
Zacatecas, Mun. de Sombrerete, San Martín, Sabinas Mine
Andradite
Morocco
Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Er Rachidia Province, Imilchil, High Atlas Mts.
Created 2009 Rock Currier
1st revision July 15, 2011 Rock Currier
Click here to view Best Minerals, Andradite N to Z Click here to view Best Minerals A and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
Edited 75 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2011 02:43PM by Rock Currier.
Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?
Andradite Display collections
Ca3Fe3+2[SiO4]3 Isometric, forms a series with Grossular and Schorlomite
 | |
| Andradite &Stilbite, Antetezambato, Ambanja, Ambanja Dist., Antsiranana Prov. Madagascar 4.6cm | © Lavinsky |
Most garnets are identified by species based on comparison to other garnets that are know to be a particular species. Probably very few of the specimens pictured below have actually had their chemistries analysied by scientific testing to place them with certitude in the Andradite range of composition. In other words, a garnet specimens shows up and someone says, well it looks like an andradite garnet to me, and puts that label on them. A good recent example of this is the recent appearance on the market of garnets from the Kays region of Mali. To my knowledge, all the actual tests of them have shown them to be grossular garnets rather than andradite garnets whether they be green, reddish or black. Most prominent in the testing of thees garnets have been the Gemological Institute of America.1. In spite of this there is a tendency in the market place to market them as andradite garnets rather than grossular garnets. This stems from the urge of various dealers to maximize the value of their goods by giving a name to them that is associated with goods of higher perceived value. Its like selling Herkimer Diamonds rather than Quartz from New York. In this case the higher perceived value that the dealers are trying to cash in on is the green variety of Andradite garnet known as demantoid. So in other words, when you see a picture of a garnet specimen or one for sale on a dealers shelf, realize that it has in the great majority of the cases never been analyzed for exact elemental content and that there is at least the possibility that it may not actually be the garnet species stated on the label.
1. Gems & Gemology Volume XXXI (Fall 1995)
Many garnets are not found in open pockets, but in intimate contact and covered with other minerals and have to be "worked out of the matrix" to make desirable specimens. Collectors usually prefer those that are collected as free standing crystals in open pockets, but for garnets, more often than not they are enclosed in other minerals. Those that are found covered by other minerals tend to be not as lustrous or as free from damage as those that occur in open pockets. Andradite garnets are found in many different colors ranging from transparent green to amber colored, through the browns, tans and black colors. The most desirable are the green transparent ones that are given the varietal name of demantoid. These have been found at a number of localities. Probably the best known of them are from some of the Italian localities. But recently, the locality at Antetezambato (Tetezambato), Ambanja, Ambanja District, Diana (Northern) Region, Antsiranana Province, Madagascar (see example above) seems to have eclipsed the Italian localities in the race for the gold, but we show numerous examples from both and you can make up your own mind. Sometimes this color grades into a yellow green or amber color and this variety is usually given the name of topazolite which is an attempt to trade on the more valuable name of topaz. Some localities produce very black shiny garnets that are often high in titanium and these are given the name melanite.
The historical record lists other varietal names for andradite other than those listed below, but you will rarely see them in collections, especially American collections. The reason for this is partly because of nomenclature name changes and partly because the localities that produced these varieties are no longer active today. In addition many specimens of these varieties are rather unattractive, often rough and/or massive and not competitive with the much better specimens of andradite and other garnets that command the attention of collectors and museums today. Many of these once abundant specimens are from old localities and have been simply thrown away. Some of these varietal names are: allochroite, colophonite, rothoffite, polyadelphite, bredbergite, aplome etc.
There are many localities for andradite garnets and only a few of them are mentioned below. I hope I have mentioned those that are of most interest to collectors and have included your favorite andradite locality. I could really use some help here. If you could point me to good images from localities not mentioned here I would be appreciative.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Andradite
Afghanistan
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| Andradite, Afghanistan ~5cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
Andradite
Afghanistan
Bamian Province (Bamyan Province; Bamiyan Province)
Andradite
Afghanistan
Ghazni Province (Gazni Province)
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| Andradite, Afghanistan 12cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
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| Andradite 3.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 5.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 5.9cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 5.9cm wide18cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
Andradite
Afghanistan
Nangarhar Province (Ningarhar Province), Khogyani District, Spin Ghar range (Speen Ghar range), Marki Khel
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| Andradite & Diopside, 7cm wide | © 2009 Jesse Fisher |
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| Andradite & Diopside, 4.8cm wide | © Dan Weinrich |
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| Andradite & Diopside, 4cm | © Freilich |
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| Andradite ~10cm | © Charles Creekmur |
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Afghanistan
Nangarhar Province (Ningarhar Province), Khogyani District, Spin Ghar range (Speen Ghar range), Marki Khel
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| Andradite 2cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
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| Andradite 1.4cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
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| Andradite4cm tall | © Freilich |
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| Andradite 4.4cm tall | © TVM |
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| Andradite on Diopside 7cm wide | © 2009 Jesse Fisher |
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| Andradite 4.8cm wide | © Dan Weinrich |
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| Andradite 4.5cm wide | © Russell G. Rizzo |
Andradite
Afghanistan
Nuristan, Spin Gar or Spin Tigga. no photos available
“These were reported to come from the Pak-Afghan border at Spin Gar or Spin Tigga which I believe means White Mountain and is near the famous (for Bin Laden) Tora Bora area. I don’t know which side of the border so I’ve always labeled them “Pakistan-Afghanistan border area”1. Dark greenish brown dodecahedrons of andradite, up to 3 cm associated with green epidote, clinochlore, diopside and calcite in matrix specimens up to about 15 cm. Similar specimens have been labeled Tribal Area, Pakistan. These two localities may be one and the same.
1. Herb Obodda, personal communication 2001.
Andradite
Afghanistan
Panjshir (Panjsheer) Province, Hessa-e-Say District, Panjsher (Panjshir) Valley, Kamar Saphet
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| Andradite crystal, 1.1cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
We need someone to tell us about the garnets from this locality.
Andradite
Argentina
Mendoza, La Valenciana
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| Andradite, 6cm wide | © KhyberMinerals.com |
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| Andradite 5.5cm wide | © Marcelo O. Olsina |
These are probably not the best specimens that the locality produces. The first is really pretty good, but the second is probably not so good. But thats just an educated guess. We need someone to tell us about the locality and the garnets it produces.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Australia
Duckmaloi, near Oberon, NSW, Australia
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| Andradite, 2.3cm wide | © Keith F Compton |
A well known skarn deposits, although good specimens are uncommon. We need someone to tell us about this skarn and its garnet specimens.
Andradite
Australia
South Australia, Mt Lofty Ranges, South Mt Lofty Ranges, Millendella, Palmer
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| Melanite, 40mm across | © R. Bottrill |
This small skarn deposit has produced many large and well formed melanites, but they are seldom seen in collections.
Andradite
Australia
Tasmania, Hampshire District, Kara Mines, Kara #1 Pit
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| Andradite 5cm wide | © TVM |
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| Andradite, ~3cm wide | © Joseph A. Freilich |
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| Andradite 9cm wide | © Andrew Tuma |
Andradite
Australia
Tasmania, Hampshire District, Hampshire Mines
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| Andradite, 2.5cm wide | © Andrew Tuma |
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| Andradite, FOV3.5cm | © R Bottrill 2006 |
These magnetite mines produce some world class specimens of Andradite. The best specimens have pale brown to black crystals to 40mm: eg [www.mindat.org] and [www.mindat.org] . They are locally quite prolific in collections despite the mine owners trying to stop collecting and selling. The deposits are magnetite-andradite-vesuvianite skarns with complex mineralogies.
Andradite
Austria
Salzburg, Pinzgau
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| Andradite, 2.5cm wide | © John Sobolewski |
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Austria
Tyrol, East Tyrol, Virgen valley, Prägraten, Ströden, Gösleswand (Goslerwand)
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| Andradite, 9cm wide | © Gerd Stefanik |
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite garnets from this locality.
Andradite
Azerbaijan
Daşkəsən Daskasan; Dashkyasan) District, Dashkesan, Dashkesan (Dashkezan) Co-Fe deposit
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| Andradite, 13cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
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| Andradite & Epidote 16cm wide | © J.Ralph |
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| Andradite, 3.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 11.2cm wide | © Lopatkin Oleg |
The Jan/Feb 1989 Mineralogical Record p.74 (picture on p70) reports that some good specimens of translucent brownish red crystals from this locality were found in about 1987. They were not abundant. We need someone to tell us about the Andradite garnets from this locality.
Andradite
Canada
Quebec
Chaudière-Appalaches, Les Appalaches RCM, Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine, Mine Lac d'Amiante (Lake Asbestos mine; LAB mine; Black Lake mine)
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| Andradite 2.9cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
Andradite
Canada
Alberta, Crowsnest Pass, Coleman no photos available
Good crystals are found on Highway 3 just west of the town limits. “Sharp black dodecahedral crystals of melanite to 7 mm weather out of the pink alkaline Crowsnest Volcanics. The contrast of the black crystals on a pinkish or olive-green matrix provides attractive cabinet and thumbnail specimens.”1
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 15, 1984, p93.
Andradite
Canada
Quebec, Mégantic Co., Thetford Mines
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| Andradite 10.7cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite, 1.9cm wide | © Joseph A. Freilich |
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| Andradite 2.7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Andradite
Canada
Quebec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Appalaches RCM, Thetford Mines, Black Lake, British Canadian mine (B.C. 1 mine; B.C. 2 mine; Martin mine; Black Lake mine; American mine; Dauville mine)
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| Andradite 3.4cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
Andradite
Canada
Quebec, Les Sources RCM, Estrie, Asbestos, Jeffrey mine (Jeffrey quarry; Johns-Manville mine)
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| Andradite 3.1cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite 2.4cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite 2.7cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite 6.1cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite 3.4cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
The green variety of Andradite garnet is called demantoid and gems cut from this mineral have brought very high prices. Traditionally the green garnets from Asbestos have been analysed and found to be Grossular garnets and not Andradite. It is common to find people trying to sell any green garnet using the name demantoid even if it is not. When I first saw these garnets I thought that is was another case of someone trying to enhance the value of their specimens by trading on the more valuable name Demantoid. However, according to the captions under the full size image (click on the image to see the full size image) these garnets have been analysed and shown to be true Andradite var. demantoid. These were posted by Jordi Fabre, and I have confidence in his identification.
Andradite
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
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| Andradite ~3.5cm |
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| Andradite FOV 1.4mm |
Andradite
Chile
Copiapo, Tierra Amarilla
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| Andradite, 4.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 5cm wide | © Simone Citon |
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| Andradite 7.1cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
This is a hill located in the Tierra Amarilla suburb of Copiapo and has has been the happy hunting grounds for generations of geology students of the local School of Mines. The black melanites found here are fairly sharp and fairly shiny. They occur in crystals up to about 5 cm and are not difficult to collect but fine specimens are not often found.
[Rock Currier, 2009]
Andradite
China
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture)
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| Andradite 5.8cm tall | © ChenXiaoJun.Com |
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| Andradite 3cm tall | © Jiangbin |
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| Andradite ~2cm wide | © Patrice Cmolik |
Andradite
China
Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region, Yili Hasake (Ili Kazakh) Autonomous Prefecture, Aletai (Altay) Prefecture, Andradite Skarn Locality
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| Andradite 11cm wide | © Van King |
Andradite
Czech Republic
Moravia (Mähren; Maehren), Vysočina Region, Rožná deposit, Bukov Mine
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| Andradite 12cm wide | © Jakub Jirásek |
Andradite
Finland
Etelä-Suomen Lääni, Helsinki, Pakila, Kehä I roadcut
The above specimen is from a road cut and not currently productive of specimens currently, but there are undoubtedly many more better ones in the ground.
[Jyrki Autio 2009]
Andradite
France
Midi-Pyrénées, Aveyron, Lapanouse-de-Sévérac (slag locality)
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| Andradite, FOV 2.5mm | © JM. Johannet |
A very tiny specimen, a micromount in fact, but it was so juicy I could not resist including it here. We need someone to tell us about this locality and it andradite specimens.
Andradite
Germany
Kirchberg Quarry, Niederrotweil, Kaiserstuhl Mts, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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| Andradite, FOV 12mm | © 2006 M. Kampf |
One classic German Locality, only mm-sized xls but very nice melanite: Kirchberg Quarry, Niederrotweil, Kaiserstuhl Mts, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Very good, lustrous xlsc of dark brownish garnet on bleached phonolite rock. Last year I discouvered a flat of specimen up to 15 cm, covered with hundreds of xls, outside the nature preservation area the quarry lies in, at a temporal outcrop.
[Sebastian Möller 2009]
These are the kind of things that are collected locally and are rarely circulated to collectors far afield. The local collectors appreciate them, but they are less appreciated out there in the real world where they have to compete with so many other better specimens
Andradite
Germany
Bavaria, Franconia, Oberkotzau, Münchberg Metamorphic complex, Wurlitz, Heß quarry
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| Andradite on/in Sepiolite, 2.1cm wide | © Conny Larsson |
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| Andradite on/in Sepiolite, FOV 9mm | © Conny Larsson |
We need someone to tell us about the andradite specimens from this locality.
Andardite
Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate, Eifel Mts, Andernach, Eich, Nickenicher Sattel (Eicher Sattel)
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| Andradite, FOV 4mm | © Stephan Wolfsried |
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| 1.03mm Andradite crystal | © Chinellato Matteo |
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Breitenbrunn District, Breitenbrunn
Dana’s Text Book of Mineralogy, 4th edition p596 describes the andradites from here (var. aplome) as “yellowish and brownish green crystals”. The specimen pictured here is in the British Museum of Natural History and is more black than yellow or green. It is mostly a single crystal about 2 cm in diameter and is probably a pretty good specimen from this locality.
Here is some information about Breitenbrunn, Erzgebirge, Saxony, from Sebastian Möller: There are lot of skarns and calcsilicate rocks outcropping near the small town. They are formed from precambrian to cambrian marls and limestones intergrown with pelites during hercynian orogeny when a granite intruded. In late hercynian times another granite intruded the former and etamorphosed it to orthogneisses. In the calcsilicate rocks garnet (grossularite and andradite) are quite common, the andradite being greenish grew to brownish green mostly. Good nearly black, very dark brown combinations of icositetrahedron and rhombendodecahedron, the latter dominating, up to about 1 cm, are known from St. Margarethe Mine (an old magnetite mine with hydrothermal pitchblende and arsenic bearing veins, mined in th 19th century for uranium oxides (as glass colours) and magnetite, early 20th century (radium) and after WW II for uranium (soviet union)). East of Breitenbrunn, next to the village of Rittersgrün, brownish green icossitrahedrons up to about 2 cm have found at the St. Richard Mine.
Andradite
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Schwarzenberg District
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| Andradite, 4cm wide | © 2003 John H. Betts |
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Greece
Aegean Islands (Aiyaíon) Department, ykládes Prefecture, Cyclade Islands (Cyclades; Kikladhes; Nomos Kikladhon), Serifos Island (Seriphos
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| One inch Andradite xl & smaller + Hedenbergite ~12cm wide | © Joseph A. Freilich |
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| Andradite 6.3cm wide | © Ch. Spirom. & Greekrocks.com |
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| Andradite 5cm wide | © Lopatkin Oleg |
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| Andradite 4cm wide | © Y.Okazaki |
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| Andradite 5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 4.9cm tall | © Spirom. & Greekrocks |
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| Andradite 3.3cm tall | © Spirom. & Greekrocks |
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| Andradite on Hedenbergite 4.8cm | © Spirom |
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| Andradite 5.6cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
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| Andradite 5.3cm wide | © Ch. Spirom. & Greekrocks.com |
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| Andradite 5.9cm wide | © Ch. Spirom. & Greekrocks.com |
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| Andradite on Hedenbergite 4.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
A recent find of fine Andradite specimens, many associated with green Hedenbergite has been made on the Island of near Aghia Marina and Mega Xhorio. This locality has produced abundant specimens, most of them have been found by field collectors and they are not from an organized mining venture. They vary in color from black and brown to amber-yellow. Crystals typically occur in dodecahedrons and trapezohedrens. From Mega Xhorio, specimens of reddish brown andradite crystals to 33 cm across associated with slightly prismatic hedenbergite crystals have been found.1
1. Mineralogical Record, July/Aug 1991 p307.
Andradite
Greece
Thraki (Thrace; Thracia) Department, Kimmeria, Xánthi Prefecture
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| Andradite 4.4cm wide | © Spirom. & Greekrocks |
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| Andradite 3.3cm wide | © Spirom. & Greekrocks |
Andradite
Greenland
Gardner Complex
No photos available
Located on a nunatak beyond the head of the Kangerdlugssuaq Fiord in east Greenland. Titaniferous black andradites (melanite) occur in parts of this ultramafic alkaline intrusion. The crystals are a few cm in diameter “but in one case a crystal fragment shows a dimension of 12 cm across.”1 At one place in the complex “melanite in natrolite veins associated with calcite, phlogopite and sometimes diopside. Specimens of this type are very beautiful, with black shiny melanite crystals in a white natrolite matrix, the crystals being up to 2 cm. across..”1 . Specimens from here are not generally available because of the difficulty of reaching the locality and the small amount of time that anyone has spent there collecting specimens and then only scratching the surface. Few specimens collected thus far would excite collectors except in so far to hint at the amazing specimens that must certainly be there just waiting for those with enough courage, strength and the resources to get them.
The Gardner complex must be one of the remotest and most difficult localities on earth to collect. It can only be accessed by carefully planned expeditions by helicopter and then only during the short summer season, if the weather is good. “Good weather” almost always has gale force winds. If the weather turns bad and or the helicopter breaks down your life would be in jeopardy, for there is no way to walk out of the locality. One of the most eloquent description of the difficulties in working at this locality was; “Phlogopite is an abundant mineral in the complex and, due to the strong winds, this mineral, (and many others too) are also very abundant in the lower part of the atmosphere.”1 See the excellent article by Ole Johnsen, Ole Petersen in the Mineralogical Record.
1. Ole Petersen and Olaf Medenbach, The Gardner Complex, a New Locality in Greenland. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 16, 1985, p 485-92.
Andradite
Honduras
Santa Bárbara Department, El Mochito Mine
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| Andradite 4cm wide | © C. Stefano '10 |
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| Andradite ~4cm wide | © C. Stefano '09 |
Andradite
Iran
Kangavar, Tang-e Ashin
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| Andradite & Epidote, 7.9cm wide. | © Jasun McAvoy |
Since I know about no other similar specimens from this locality I wonder if it might be rather from the Azerbaijan locality. But it is such a nice specimen I have decided to include it here until a knowledgeable person comes along and confirms or discredits the locality.
Andradie
Iran
Kerman Province, Baft District, Soghan
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| Andradite var. demantoid, 3.3cm wide | © Edwards Minerals |
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| Andradite, var. demantoid, 1.6cm wide | © Lopatkin Oleg |
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| Andradite 1.8cm wide | © H. Obodda |
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| Andradite 2cm wide | © Patrice Cmolik |
We need someone to tell us about the garnets from this locality. It would appear they hold great promise.
Andradite
Italy
Aosta Valley, Valtournanche Valley, Valtournanche, Gouffre de Bousserailles
Andradite
Italy
Latium, Rome Province, Alban Hills, Frascati
“Sharp melanite dodecahedrons to 5/8” diameter occur at Monte Somma, Vesuvius and at Frascati, Alban Hills near Rome”1 The crystals from Frascati pictured here are in the British Museum of Natural History and I suspect that at one time they were fairly abundant and at that time considered outstanding. By today’s standards they are more of a curiosity than high on the want lists of mineral collectors.
1. Sinkankas, Mineralogy p539.
Andradite
Italy
Latium, Viterbo Province, Onano, Montenero quarry
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| 1.06mm Andradite crystal | © Chinellato Matteo |
Andradite
Italy
Lombardy, Sondrio Province, Malenco Valley, Lanterna Valley, Campo Franscia, Franscia Mine
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| Andradite v. demantoid, 8.7cm tall | © Lavinsky |
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| Andradite v. demantoid 8cn wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite v. demantoid, 7cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
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| Andradite 5cm wide | © Patrice Cmolik |
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| Andradite 7.8cm wide | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
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| Andradite 10.6cm wide | © Weinrich Minerals, Inc. |
We need someone to tell us about this fine Andradite locality.
Andradite
Italy
Lombardy, Sondrio Province, Malenco Valley, Sferlun asbestos mine
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| Andradite v. demantoid, FOV 4cm | © Martins da Pedra |
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| Andradite 9.4mm wide | © Chinellato Matteo |
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| Andradite 4.6cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite var. demantoid, to 5.6mm | © Matteo |
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens that come from this locality.
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Provincd, Chisone Valley
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| Andradite on Ripidolite 5.5cm wide | © Yves Masson |
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Sesia-Lanzo zone, Lanzo Valley, Ala Valley, Balme, Mussa Alp
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| Andradite v. demantoid, ~9cm | © |
The variety of andradite garnet that is most cherished by collectors and brings the highest prices come from Ala Valley, Piedmont. Most good dealers and collectors today call them by the varietal name of demantoid but Dana’s Text, 4th edition assigns them the varietal name topazolite. Good lustrous, translucent to transparent green dodecahedral crystals are found associated with white fibrous asbestos. Good crystals are rarely more than 12 mm in diameter. The best crystals have well developed faces but the crystals are often somewhat rounded. Some form complex crystals that look like little green raspberries. Fine specimens of this variety are very difficult to get. In 40 years I have not been able to get a good one, but then again I am a cheap skate. I once saw a beautiful complete single crystal of about 12 mm sell for about $500 before I could grab it up myself. Today I would think it would bring several thousand. But to get it you would at least have to outlive the current owner. The best miniature or small cabinet sized specimen will bring several thousand dollars if you can find one.
[Rock Currier 2009]
But! Harjo Neutkens wirtes: Rock, I think there's a mix up here.....to me the Andradite specimens in the article with the provenance Ala valley are actually pieces of Demantoite in Asbestos from Malenco valley, either from the Franscia or Sferlun mines. The Garnets from Ala valley are orange to red Grossular. Of course it might be the case that I don't know about an occurance of Demantoite in Asbestos in Ala valley but I'll eat my shoe (both...) if those specimens are not from Malenco valley. Is there some Italian specialist out there that can help us out here? Is the locality of these three specimens above screwed up?
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Susa Valley
Andradite
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Susa Valley, Condove, Laietto (Lajetto)
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| Andradite v. topazolite, 3cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
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| Andradite, 5cm tall | © 2001 John H. Betts |
We need someone to tell us about the specimens from this locality.
Andradite
Japan
Honshu Island, Kinki Region, Nara Prefecture, Yoshino-gun, Tenkawa village, Kohse mine
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| Andradite, 2cm wide | © Jasun McAvoy |
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| Andradite, 1.5cm wide | © Jasun McAvoy |
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| Andradite 2.5cm wide | © A&M |
We need someone to tell us about the Andradite specimens from this locality. Alfredo Petrov is a great fan of the "rainbow" andradite garnets from Nara Prefecture and notes that they are almost pure end member andradite. There was a fine one pictures on Rocks & Minerals special Japan issue cover.
Andradite
Kazakhstan
Kostanay Province (Qostanay Oblysy; Kostanai Oblast'), Sokolovskoe Iron Mine (Sokolovskiy Mine; Sokol'noye Mine)
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| Andradite 9.5cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
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| Andradite 3.5cm tall | © Weinrich |
Andradite
Madagascar
Antsiranana Province, Diana (Northern) Region, Ambanja District
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| Andradite, 4.4cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite, 4.1cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite, 2.9cm wide | © fabre |
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| Andradite, 2.5cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite ~3,3cm tall | © Albert Russ |
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| Andradite 2.9cm wide | © David J. Eicher |
Andradite
Madagascar
Antsiranana Province, Diana (Northern) Region, Ambanja District, Ambanja, Antetezambato (Tetezambato)
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| Andradite 7.7mm tall | © Chinellato Matteo |
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| Andradite 7cm wide | © J.Ralph |
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| Andradite 5cm tall | © J.Ralph |
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| Andradite 3.6cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite ~1.5cm wide | © D. Preite - M.C. |
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| Andradite & Quartz 3.6cm wide | © www.SpiriferMinerals.com |
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| Andradite 2.9cm wide | © fabre |
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| Andradite 10.5cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
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| Andradite & Quartz 5cm tall | © Eric Graff |
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| Andradite 4cm wide | © www.SpiriferMinerals.com |
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| Andradite 6.1cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 5.2cm wide | © www.SpiriferMinerals.com |
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| Andradite 4cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
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| Andradite 5.2cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite 6.2cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 4.7cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite 4.3cm wide | © Oleg Lopatkin |
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| Andradite 11cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 7.8cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 6.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 7.6cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Andradite 5.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 8.7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 6.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 2.1cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 4.3cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite var. demantoid 7.17ct | © Chinellato Matteo |
Andradite??
Mali
Kays Region
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| Grossular garnet 12.5cm wide | © Joseph A. Freilich |
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| 2.1cm Andradite on matrix | © Edwards Minerals |
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| Andradite ~8cm tall | © Joseph A. Freilich |
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| Andradite 3.5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 5.4cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 15cm wide | © Yves Masson |
In the Kays region of Mali there are many small skarn deposits where garnet, prehnite and epidote specimens have been found. Initially there were some greenish garnets that were thought to be emeralds, but they were soon identified as garnets and of course they, in the absence of any scientific analysis were marketed as demantoid, topazolite or andradite garnets. At one point there were several thousand people digging for these hopping to make their fortune. Eventually the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) did a study on the garnets and all of the ones that they tested were on the grossular side of the grossular/andradite series. Some of the black garnets from the Kays Region of Mali have been tested and found to be Andradite.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
Chihuahua, La Prieta Mine
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| Andradite 5cm tall | © 2001 John H. Betts |
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| Andradite 7cm wied | © Rob Lavinsky |
Andradite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Julimes, General Lázaro Cárdenas (Lázaro Cárdenas; Colonia Lázaro Cárdenas), Ojos Espanoles Mine
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| Andradite 5.7cm wiede | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
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| Andradite 7.7cm wide | © Weinrich Minerals, Inc. |
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| Andradite, 4.45cm wide | © Charles Creekmur |
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| Andradite, 4.9cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Andradite 5.4cm wide | © Weinrich |
Tom Palmer, a mineral dealer in El Paso did a dig a this locality and produced several hundred Andradite specimens, with shiny free standing shiny black crystals to 4 cm. Specimens with larger crystals were found but were not of good quality. To my knowledge this was a dig that was done only for the specimens and was not the byproduct of a normal mining venture to produce a raw material for industry. More and more we are seeing this kind of operation. These specimens are probably better than the melanite specimens from San Benito County although not as sharp. I think the best of these sold for more than $1000. You can still buy good specimens of this material from time to time for less than $500.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Saucillo, Naica, Naica Mine
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| 8.8cm wide | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
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| Andradite 6.4cm wide | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
Andradite
Mexico
San Luis Potosí, Mun. de Charcas, Charcas, Morelos Mine
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| Andradite 9cm wide | © Yves Masson |
Andradite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Hermosillo, La Prietas, Prietas Mine
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| Andradite 7cm wide | © Marcelo O. Olsina |
Andradite
Mexico
Sonora, Sierra Madre Mountains
No photos available
The crystals are yellow brown-olive green and are well formed mostly single crystals to about two cm in diameter. Some of them, especially when polished show a “bright flash of iridescence just under the surface on phantom trapezohedral faces. The flash varies from yellow to orange in most crystals, but is blue to green in others.”1 These crystals showed up at the 1972 Tucson Gem and Mineral show and were being sold exclusively by the “Rainbow Garnet” company. The owners gave the locality only in the most general terms since they apparently hoped to capitalize on the garnets in a big way and promote them as an exclusive gem material and sell them at dollars per carat. The sale of these garnets has apparently proved disappointing because they have vanished from the show circuit scene and I know of few collectors who bought any of these specimens.
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 25, 1994, p.215.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
South Central Mexico
No photo??? Perhaps I should not have included mention of this locality here since it is so nebulous.
Another locality given only in general terms because the promoters fear that giving a more nearly exact locality will endanger any exclusivity that they hope to profit from. The specimens are obviously from several related localities. “The andradite varies from greenish brown to a bright, clean green which gemologists might call demantoid. The crystals are generally to about 1 cm in size, vary from full dodecahedrons to full trapezohedrens and in some cases have hoppered faces. Crystals on matrix, individual or in clusters, are the common habit, but some peculiar spherical shells have also been recovered. The shells, up to perhaps 20 cm in diameter, are ovoid in shape and consist only of Andradite, with crystal faces showing on both the inside and outside surfaces.”1 These showed up at the 1985 Tucson show. Few of them have appeared on the market since then which would make me think that the cost of digging and marketing the specimens did not allow a profit. The image of a small specimen of “demantoids” from this locality is pictured in the Mineralogical Record, and would probably bring in $500 to $1000 or possibly more.
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 16, 1985, p 304.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Andradite
Mexico
Zacatecas,Mun. de Concepción del Oro, Concepción del Oro
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| Andradite 7.9cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Andradite
Mexico
Zacatecas, Mun. de Sombrerete, San Martín, Sabinas Mine
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| Andradite & Quartz 4.4cm wide | © Dragon Minerals |
Andradite
Morocco
Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Er Rachidia Province, Imilchil, High Atlas Mts.
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| Andradite 12cm wide | © Yves Masson |
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| Andradite 2.5cm wide | © Martins da Pedra |
Created 2009 Rock Currier
1st revision July 15, 2011 Rock Currier
Click here to view Best Minerals, Andradite N to Z Click here to view Best Minerals A and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
Edited 75 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2011 02:43PM by Rock Currier.
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Re: Andradite May 16, 2009 08:47AM |
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Re: Andradite May 16, 2009 08:50AM |
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Re: Andradite May 16, 2009 03:28PM |
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Re: Andradite May 28, 2009 05:59PM |
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Re: Andradite May 29, 2009 05:24AM |
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Re: Andradite May 29, 2009 10:32AM |
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Re: Andradite May 29, 2009 01:31PM |
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Re: Andradite May 29, 2009 03:26PM |
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Re: Andradite May 30, 2009 05:45AM |
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The Arendal and Gjerstad locations are distinct locations and refers to administrative units ( municipalities) in Aust Agder, Norway.
Both locations belongs to the same geological province ( the bamble formation), and the andradite from this area is found in iron rich skarns with magnetite, diopside, quartz, epidote, scapolite ( probably marialite). Several of these skarn occurances has been mined for iron. The first mine (Barbu) opened in1585 and the Bråstad mine was not shut down until the 1970-ties. There has been dozens of mining operations in these skarns, and even more locations that has not been mined. Today most of these locations are lost through urban development and flooded mine shafts.
The best crystals can be quite good, and I think I remember some excellent specimens from the local museum in Arendal. I cannot recall the crystal size. These specimens are rare on the marked today, and I would suspect that the best specimens can be found in European Museum collections ( see [home.pages.at] ) and older private collections in Norway. I suggest that the location Arendal Iron mines [www.mindat.org], (or more correctly "Greater Arendal iron skarn locations" ) can be used for these andradites, just noting that some of these iron mines are located outside the current Arendal municipality.
Also the Grua area [www.mindat.org] and Drammensmarka [www.mindat.org] are good Norwegian andradite locations.
:)
Olav
Both locations belongs to the same geological province ( the bamble formation), and the andradite from this area is found in iron rich skarns with magnetite, diopside, quartz, epidote, scapolite ( probably marialite). Several of these skarn occurances has been mined for iron. The first mine (Barbu) opened in1585 and the Bråstad mine was not shut down until the 1970-ties. There has been dozens of mining operations in these skarns, and even more locations that has not been mined. Today most of these locations are lost through urban development and flooded mine shafts.
The best crystals can be quite good, and I think I remember some excellent specimens from the local museum in Arendal. I cannot recall the crystal size. These specimens are rare on the marked today, and I would suspect that the best specimens can be found in European Museum collections ( see [home.pages.at] ) and older private collections in Norway. I suggest that the location Arendal Iron mines [www.mindat.org], (or more correctly "Greater Arendal iron skarn locations" ) can be used for these andradites, just noting that some of these iron mines are located outside the current Arendal municipality.
Also the Grua area [www.mindat.org] and Drammensmarka [www.mindat.org] are good Norwegian andradite locations.
:)
Olav
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Re: Andradite May 30, 2009 10:11AM |
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Re: Andradite May 30, 2009 01:26PM |
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Re: Andradite May 31, 2009 03:02PM |
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Re: Andradite June 01, 2009 01:03PM |
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Re: Andradite June 01, 2009 02:06PM |
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Re: Andradite June 01, 2009 02:37PM |
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Re: Andradite June 01, 2009 02:52PM |
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Re: Andradite June 01, 2009 02:55PM |
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Re: Andradite June 01, 2009 07:09PM |
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Re: Andradite June 01, 2009 09:10PM |
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