Andradite (var. Melanite)

Here is a cluster of andradite garnets This particular specimen has nice lustre and the crystals show dominate dodecahedra bevelled by trapezohedral faces.

This is an example of one of three types of andradite garnet, namely the variety Melanite, named after the Greek word "melanos", meaning black, due to the presence of Titanium. These interpenetrating dodecahedral crystals occur in skarns in contact metamorphosed, impure limestones. The matrix is composed of massive albite, a plagioclase feldspar mineral. From the famous Draa-Tafilalet region of Morocco.

DDJ