Garnet Var. Tsavorite with Diopside

Garnet Var. Tsavorite with Diopside

sold
Locality
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mtns., Arusha Region, Tanzania
Minerals
Grossular, Diopside
Dimensions
4.2 x 2.5 x 3 cm
Size class
Miniature
SID
TSAVORITE3

This is a unique specimen of elongated Tsavorite crystals with Diopside. The Tsavorite is a rich leaf green, and consequently leached all the Vanadium out of the Diopside. The KD is the partition coefficient, which is much higher for garnet than diopside, therefore the vanadium (causes the green color) stayed within the garnet, not the diopside. This piece is unusual in that it exhibits the partition coefficient, but also because Tsavorite rarely creates elongated crystals like this. There is a little contact on the tops of the elongated crystals, and there are small bright pyrites throughout.