Description
Raspberry Red Beryl & Garnet Replaced (Pseudomorphed) by Sanadine Feldspar and Hematite & Topaz (Direct Mine source) ? Location: Thomas Range (Topaz Mountain) Juab Co. Utah. Large Thumbnail (see photo for more details). Here we have an interesting and very ?RARE? combination specimen. We have a spessartine garnet crystal that has been replaced (pseudomorphed) by hematite with a outer coating of Sanadine feldspar with a red beryl crystal and some topaz crystals perched on it. When it comes to red beryl Utah is the place. Red beryl was first discovered and described by Maynard Bixby from the Thomas Range (type locality) in the late 1890s. By the way Maynard Bixby also first discovered and described bixbyite from this same locale. First let me just say that the combination of these minerals (on the same specimen) is extremely rare. The beryl is a gemmy raspberry pink color along with a glassy luster. The ?original? garnet crystal has been pseudomorphed by sharply formed specular hematite crystals and then over coated with a ?coating? of well-formed and sharp white to off-white colored sanadine feldspar crystals. There are also several some formed pale amber colored topaz crystals. One very unusual thing about this specimen is that the crystal displays the dodecahedral form exclusively!! Normally the garnets found here are dominated by the trapazoheral forms.
