Detailed information
Dimensions
68 x 37 x 31
mm
Locality
North Mine, Broken Hill Yancowinna Co., New South Wales Australia
Condition
No recorded repairs
Spessartine Garnet in Galena is one of the most readily recognisable specimens from the world-famous mines at Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia. Such specimens are always spectacular because of the strange juxtaposition of glassy red garnet crystals within a matrix of metallic silver Galena, but this small beauty is breath-taking. About ten Spessartine crystals are partly embedded in the Galena, of which three large and beautifully developed stand out. The glassy and lustrous dodecahedral crystals appear a very dark, burnt cherry-red and in general are fairly opaque. However, certain faces and edges do have translucent patches and against strong light transmit a stunning claret-red. The two largest and showiest crystals measure roughly 2.0 x 2.0 x 1.5 cm. A small patch of massive brassy-golden Chalcopyrite is visible on the front edge of the matrix. A magnificent example of Spessartine Garnet in Galena from North mine at Broken Hill.