Description
This is a a quite exceptional Hessonite (a variety of the garnet species Grossular) and Clinochlore specimen from the Italian Alps, namely, Bellecombe in the Piedmontese Aosta Valley. This specimen can easily compete with those from North American localities such as the Canadian Jeffrey Mine near Val-des-Sources (formerly known as Asbestos) or the Belvidere Quarries in Vermont, USA. Its individual deep orange brown crystals with a vitreous luster are sharp, and translucent. They are perched on tabular olive-green Clinochlore. This is a perfect specimen with just minimal edge wears.