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Spessartine
Greg Polley
Specimen | Catalog Number | Locality | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Spessartine | NMNH G10621 | Madagascar | 2.53 ct |
Gift of Mr. Thomas A. Cushman in 2009.
Spessartine is the manganese-rich member of the garnet family and is typically colored yellowish to reddish orange. Spessartine gems can be quite beautiful, but they are not commonly seen in jewelry because the supplies are limited. The major sources for gem quality spessartine are Sri Lanka and Brazil. Other important localities include Australia, Burma, India, Israel, Madagascar, Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, and the United States. This 2.53ct spessartine garnet is the first from Madagascar in the National Gem Collection.