Grossular (var. Hessonite)

The top face of this specimen is covered with lustrous orangey grossular garnet crystals. The garnets are accompanied by white pectolite, and green diopside micros adding to the mineralogical appeal. The biggest crystal has a tiny growth interruption on it, interrupted by a tiny pectolite crystal (this can be seen under magnification, it's not a chip). The Jeffrey Mine is a classic locality for grossular garnet, with its specimens being highly sought after due to their superb lustre and well-defined striations.

This piece is a prime example of the renowned material that originated from the now-closed Jeffrey Mine in Val-des-Sources (formerly Asbestos), Quebec. The open-pit mine, once one of the world's largest chrysotile asbestos sites, measured 2 km in diameter and 350 meters deep. Operations began in 1879, and by 1969, the expansion of the pit led to the relocation of the town. However, the global decline in asbestos demand during the 1980s, following its classification as a carcinogen, led to the mine’s closure in 2001. Since then, it has been inactive, making specimens from this locality increasingly rare and desirable.