IMCN68 Andradite Garnet

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.6x 5.8x 5.1 cm

$160

A cluster of very large, greenish andradite garnets from Hunaggang.  I first saw these at Tucson 2010, but the prices were kind of high, so I didn’t buy any then.  Along with the ilvaites and manganocalcites, these were some of the first specimens to hit the market.

They look a lot like the pieces from Stanley Butte, AZ, Mendoza Argentina, El Mochito Honduras, or any of the other places that have produced large plates of andradite.  

It is interesting to note however, the differences in color from specimen to specimen-- on some pieces, the individual crystals seem to be composed of multiple layers, giving rise to very interesting coloration.

This is the case with this piece-- I normally don't post images of contact points, but of you look at the lower right image you will see the concentric bands of differently colored garnet generations.  A very interesting piece.