Chinese Garnet Specimens
The most common of the Chinese garnets available today are the bright red and orange spessartines from the Tongbei Area, Yunxiao Co. Fujian Prov., China. They have been common and relatively inexpensive in nice specimens for a number of years. Both the red and the orange spessartines come from the same location with the reds being discovered first to be followed by the orange crystals several years after that in 2002-2003. The are pegmatite minerals commonly found in association with feldspar and smoky quartz. Some of this quartz has been enhanced through irradiation so beware. Good matrix specimens are expensive like other fine pegmatite minerals. Large garnets are rare.
A somewhat common association with these garnets is a white, stalactitic variety of hyalite opal. It can be noticed more easily with the use of a UV light as it is highly fluorescent.
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OKE-250 Spessartine on Quartz with Hyalite Opal Tongbei, Area, Yunxiao County, Fujian Prov., China. This is a really nice plate of beautifully formed, gemmy garnets on feldspar with fillings of highly fluorescent hyalite opal. The plate displays great and measures 7.5 x 6 cm. There is no damage and the piece id well covered but not coated with intergrown crystals. The crystals show proper separation so you can appreciate their form. Great price at 70$
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OKA-821 Spessartine Guangdong, China. Gemmy red garnets to .5 cm each on a base of dull tan colored feldspars. The garnets show up great and cover almost all of the matrix. The entire piece is approx. 15 x 10 cm. 185$
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OKA-847 Spessartine/ Smoky Quartz Tongbei, Yunxuiao, Fujian Prov. China. This piece is the same material as OKA-846 but larger in all respects. Garnets up to about .9 cm and quartz to over 2 cm on this 11 cm long by 5 cm wide specimen. Deep blood red garnets and dark smokies. Photo is a bit too dark. 120$
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OKD-035 Spessartine on Smoky Quartz Pegmatite in Tongbei area, Yunxiao County, Fujian Prov., China. These wonderful orange spessartine garnets first came on the scene in 2002-2003. Lots of material was available because they were already collecting garnet/ quartz specimens from this mine. The difference was these spessartine’s are there color. Prior to this time the crystals were a deep ruby red with the same nice form. These have been analyzed and have been found to have the highest water content of any spessaritnes found to date. The result is their light orange color. This 8 x 7.5 x 7 cm piece is exceptional for its aesthetics. Most specimens from here are flat while this one is very much three-dimensional. This quartz, to 5.5 cm, is natural and NOT irradiated like much of this materials is. Garnets to half a cm are gemmy. Displays well (base is sawed flat). Surface has missing material (in-situe damage) but still very aesthetic. 175$
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OKD-835 Spessartine on Quartz Tongbei Area, Yunxian Co., Fujian Prov., China. Beautifully formed, striated garnets to well over a cm each on feldspar and smoky quartz. A good quality, damage free piece which measures in at 4.8 x 4 x 2.4 cm. 45$
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OKB-193 Spessartine/ Smoky Quartz/ Feldspar Tongbei Yunxuiao, Fujian Province, China. Nice plate with spessartines to .9 cm each on gray quartz and feldspar crystals. Excellent value. 18$
