Garnets from Morganton NC
The Garnet Mineral Group
Garnet is not a single mineral, but a group that contains closely related, isomorphous minerals that form a series with each other. The Garnet members form intermediary minerals between each member, and may even intergrow within a single crystal. The Garnets vary only slightly in physical properties, and some of the members may be so similar that they are indistinguishable from one another without x-ray analysis.
The common Garnets can be divided into two subgroups:
Garnets containing aluminum (Al) as their second element. These include;
Pyrope (Magnesium aluminum silicate)
Almandine (Iron aluminum silicate)
Spessartine (Manganese aluminum silicate)"Pyralspite"
Garnets containing calcium (Ca) as their first element. These include;
Uvarovite (Calcium chromium silicate)
Grossular (Calcium aluminum silicate)
Andradite (Calcium iron silicate )"Ugrandite"
The members of each group freely intermingle among one another. For example, the magnesium in Pyrope may be partially replaced by some iron from Almandine or by some manganese from Spessartine. However, between the two groups of Garnets, it is much rarer for them to intermingle.
Garnets are shaped as well-formed, distinct, dodecahedral and trapezohedral crystals. Garnets are found as floaters, in matrix, in compact crystal groupings, grainy, massive, as rounded crystals, and as groups of small crystals.
Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina
Garnets from near Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina are normally single crystals of almandine garnet with no matrix, no point of attachment (a floater). These garnets may even be found as perfect trapezohedron crystals (24 faces). Garnets from here are easily identified by their characteristic limonite surface coating.
The old Tweedy mine south of Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina used to be a favorite site among local collectors until it was closed some 30 years ago. It produced almandine garnets from pea size to a few about the size of baseballs. It is located about 6 miles South of Interstate 40 on North Carolina state highway 18. It was a pay to collect operation. The M.A.G.M.A. Group has been granted access in the past.
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7 pc Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal Set from Morganton, NC
$72.00 Add to cart -
9 pc Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal Set from Morganton, NC
$83.00 Add to cart -
9 pc Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal Set from Morganton, NC
$84.00 Add to cart -
9 pc Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal Set from Morganton, NC
$82.00 Add to cart -
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$72.00 Add to cart -
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$59.00 Add to cart
Item# 51GARMORG03201050
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$16.50
This is a Rare Find...Old Stock specimen of trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 1.9 oz (55g) and measures 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.1 inches (32 x 31 x 28 mm)
Item# 52GARMORG03201050
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$15.80
This is a Rare Find...Old Stock specimen of trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 1.6 oz (47g) and measures 1.3 x 1.1 x 0.9 inches (33 x 28 x 23 mm)
Item# 54GARMORG03201050
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
This is a Rare Find...Old Stock specimen of trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 1.6 oz (46g) and measures 1.2 x 1.2 x 1 inches (31 x 30 x 25 mm)
Item# 57GARMORG03201001
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$22.50
This is a Rare Find...Old Stock specimen of trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has traces of the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 3.9oz or 0.24 lb (110g) and measures 1.65 x 1.6 x 1.4 inches (42 x 40 x 36 mm)
Item# 58GARMORG03201001
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$30.20
This is a Rare Find...Old Stock specimen of trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has traces of the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 7 oz or 0.44 lb (201g) and measures 2.1 x 1.9 x 1.6 inches (53 x 50 x 42 mm)
Item# 60GARMORG03201001
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
This is a Rare Find...Old Stock specimen of trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 4.6 oz or 0.28 lb (131g) and measures 1.9 x 1.8 x 1.4 inches (48 x 46 x 36 mm)
Item# 61GARMORG03201001
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$36.00
This is a Rare Find...Old Stock specimen of trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 8.4 oz or 0.52 lb (239g) and measures 2.2 x 2 x 1.7 inches (56 x 51 x 44 mm)
Item# 66GARMORG03201001
Old Stock Almandine Garnet Crystal from Morganton, NC
$85.00
This is a Rare Find...Very Large Old Stock specimen of environmentally and weather worn trapezohedron crystals (24 faces) Almandine Garnet collected in the 1970's near Morganton in Burke County, North Carolina. It has the traditional limonite coating.
Garnet Crystal weighs 3.62 oz or 2.26 lb (1.028kg) and measures 3.8 x 3.1 x 2.8 inches (9.6 x 8 x 7.1 cm)