TC01 Gaudefroyite on Garnet var. Andradite

N'Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

16.8x 10.9x 9.8 cm

$2000

A exceptional large cabinet gaudeforyite from the Kalahari manganese fields.  This piece is richly covered with terminated gaudefroyite crystals, the largest reaching 1.4 cm.

The gaudefroyite crystals lie on a matrix composed of bright red andradite garnets, and when displayed from the angle shown at right, the red matrix and black gaudefroyite shows beautiful contrast.

Good gaudefroyite is nearly impossible to obtain today, and large matrix specimens such as this one are rarely encountered.  This one was kept in storage in South Africa for years, until being brought to Tucson where I acquired it.