Andradite / (var - Demantoid) / Locality - Sferlun Mine, Val Malenco, Sondrio, Lombardia, Italy

This dramatically eye-catching and aesthetic specimen hosts hundreds of rich olive-green colored clusters of sharp, lustrous, dodecahedral crystals of Demantoid sit atop a thin layer of fibrous off-white color Chrysotile on host rock matrix. A six-inch display specimen from Sferlun is certainly hard to come by, and the majority of the hundreds of crystals on this attractive specimen are damage free. The concentration of decent-sized crystals on this piece makes this a worthwhile cabinet sized piece of this classic material. Good green Garnet specimens are rarely seen in pieces this size, especially with so many crystals on the same specimen.

When it comes to Alpine Garnets, the Italian specimens are among the best in the world! Whether it be Grossulars or Andradites, the Italian specimens have set the standard for the Alpine material. The Demantoids from the famous Val Malenco (Malenco Valley) are among the most well-known and highly sought after Garnets in the world. These are true Alpine classics, and the best specimens are breathtaking from the standpoint of color, crystal size, gemminess, luster and rarity.

I recently acquired a small parcel of specimens from the famous locality at Sferlun which were collected approximately 30 years ago (late 1970s – early 1980s), and remained in a private collection for decades. I am told that these pieces originally came through the Magistretti collection in Italy.

These are great specimens of this world famous material, which are typically not seen very often on the market. Good Demantoids from Italy are always in demand, and good matrix Garnets from ANY locality are certainly hard to come by. Lastly, a few of the specimens in this lot are some of the largest individual pieces of this classic material that I’ve handled.

Locality: Sferlun Mine, Val Malenco, Sondrio, Lombardia, Italy

Specimen Size: 15.0 x 9.7 x 4.4 cm (large cabinet)
Largest Crystal: 3.5 mm