Description

#1543 – 1.85 x 1.3 x .75 -inch reddish brown cluster of Andradite Garnets from the Kayes region of Mali.  Individual Garnet crystals are up to .3 inches on edge.  Andradite from the Kayes Region of Mali originates from contact metamorphism of impure limestones or calcic igneous rocks. It is often found in skarns, which are rocks formed during contact metamorphism, and can be part of the Andradite-Grossular series of garnets, particularly the gem-quality grossular-andradite variety. The metamorphism involves high temperatures causing the minerals in the original rocks to recrystallize into new, stable forms, and the process can also occur in other metamorphic environments like chlorite schists and serpentinites.