Erving, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA

Backlit almandine crystal in graphite schist matrix showing well the combined dodecahedral and trapezohedral forms common at this locality. Elongated, dark dravite crystals are also present.

Specimen of graphite schist hosting backlit almandine crystals and elongated dravite crystals.

© Antonio Miglioli

Dravite crystals with black inclusions of graphite with dark red almandine crystal and all encased in graphite schist.

© Van King

Almandine crystal under reflected light (left) and transmitted light (right), with dravite crystals in graphite schist. Collection & Photo Matteo Chinellato. This image is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

© Chinellato Matteo - ChinellatoPhoto

Two backlit, red almandine crystals in a grey graphite schist matrix. This specimen has been prepared to allow backlighting of the garnet crystals for the "red embers" effect.

© Christopher Clemens

Backlit almandine crystal nested in graphite-schist matrix.

© Lopatkin Oleg

Almandine in graphite schist backlit with a small pen light and photo not enhanced in anyway. Collection of Jaimy Henman.

Largest crystal is 7mm. Beautiful when backlit.

© LucianaBarbosa.com

Backlit almandine crystals with elongated dark dravite crystals nested in graphite-schist matrix.

© Oleg Lopatkin

The property owners air-abrade their specimens so that light can be shone from behind the almandine crystals, making them glow a bright red. The child image shows how these garnets look when back lit.

© J.DeFelice

This is a miniature specimen of two almandine crystals I acquired the specimen from Tom and Pam Kottyan (The Mineral House) at the 2015 Canton mineral show. This specimen was collected by Jason Baskin. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the garnets found at this mine are predominately almandine, but had some pyrope and spessartine components. ...

© Jamison K. Brizendine

Almandine crystals nested in graphite-schist matrix, one crystal backlit and the other not.

© JR Montgomery

This photo shows how air-abrading away the matrix from behind the almandine crystals allows light to be shined through the red "ember-like" garnets.

© J.DeFelice

Almandine crystals, some backlit on graphite schist. Purchased from Jason Baskin in 2014. Bryan Davis collection and photo.

© Bryan Davis 2020

Almandine crystal showing well the combined dodecahedral and trapezohedral forms common at this locality.

9.0 x 7.3 x 1.1 cm. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent almandine-pyrope garnet crystals, when they are strongly backlit. The lustrous, dark wine-red trapezohedrons reach 1.3 cm and are aesthetically scattered on the schist matrix plate. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are seldom available.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

15.3 x 13.2 x 1.5 cm. At least 30 almandine-pyrope garnet crystals are attractively scattered on both sides of the large, sculptural, thin schist matrix plate on this impressive large specimen. The moderately lustrous dodecahedrons, to 1.3 cm, appear to be dark gray with zones of wine-red color on normal light, but glow with gorgeous cherry-red ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Backlit almandine crystals nested in graphite-schist matrix.

© Lopatkin Oleg

9.0 x 7.3 x 1.1 cm. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent almandine-pyrope garnet crystals, when they are strongly backlit. The lustrous, dark wine-red trapezohedrons reach 1.3 cm and are aesthetically scattered on the schist matrix plate. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are seldom available.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

A backlit almandine crystal in graphite schist. The crystal shows combined dodecahedral and trapezohedral forms.

© JR Montgomery

Almandine crystal in graphite schist matrix showing well the combined dodecahedral and trapezohedral forms common at this locality.

This is a striking and unusual large slab specimen featuring deep red almandine garnets set against a lustrous black graphite matrix with little dravite crystals. The almandine crystals are well-formed, displaying classic dodecahedral shapes with rich, wine-red to deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with the smooth, metallic sheen of the ...

9.0 x 7.3 x 1.1 cm. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent almandine-pyrope garnet crystals, when they are strongly backlit. The lustrous, dark wine-red trapezohedrons reach 1.3 cm and are aesthetically scattered on the schist matrix plate. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are seldom available.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

14.6 x 9.4 x 1.4 cm. Nineteen lustrous, dark wine-red Almandine-Pyrope Series garnet trapezohedrons, to 1.2 cm are aesthetically scattered on the large sculptural schist matrix plate. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent garnet crystals when they are strongly backlit. The schist is peppered with tiny dravite tourmaline needles. ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

14.6 x 9.4 x 1.4 cm. Nineteen lustrous, dark wine-red Almandine-Pyrope Series garnet trapezohedrons, to 1.2 cm are aesthetically scattered on the large sculptural schist matrix plate. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent garnet crystals when they are strongly backlit. The schist is peppered with tiny dravite tourmaline needles. ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

9.6 x 5.5 x 2.0 cm. This well-placed on the sculptural mica schist, sharp, 1.7 cm, moderately lustrous, mostly gray-black almandine-pyrope trapezohedron crystal looks gray-black in normal light. But, it glows with cherry-red color when strongly backlit. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are seldom available.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

15.3 x 13.2 x 1.5 cm. At least 30 almandine-pyrope garnet crystals are attractively scattered on both sides of the large, sculptural, thin schist matrix plate on this impressive large specimen. The moderately lustrous dodecahedrons, to 1.3 cm, appear to be dark gray with zones of wine-red color on normal light, but glow with gorgeous cherry-red ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

14.6 x 9.4 x 1.4 cm. Nineteen lustrous, dark wine-red Almandine-Pyrope Series garnet trapezohedrons, to 1.2 cm are aesthetically scattered on the large sculptural schist matrix plate. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent garnet crystals when they are strongly backlit. The schist is peppered with tiny dravite tourmaline needles. ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

11.1 x 10.4 x 1.5 cm. Three lustrous, dark wine-red almandine-pyrope garnet trapezohedrons, to 1.8 cm are aesthetically clustered on the sculptural schist matrix plate. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent almandine-pyrope garnet crystals, when they are strongly backlit. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

15.3 x 13.2 x 1.5 cm. At least 30 almandine-pyrope garnet crystals are attractively scattered on both sides of the large, sculptural, thin schist matrix plate on this impressive large specimen. The moderately lustrous dodecahedrons, to 1.3 cm, appear to be dark gray with zones of wine-red color on normal light, but glow with gorgeous cherry-red ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

11.1 x 10.4 x 1.5 cm. Three lustrous, dark wine-red almandine-pyrope garnet trapezohedrons, to 1.8 cm are aesthetically clustered on the sculptural schist matrix plate. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent almandine-pyrope garnet crystals, when they are strongly backlit. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

9.6 x 5.5 x 2.0 cm. This well-placed on the sculptural mica schist, sharp, 1.7 cm, moderately lustrous, mostly gray-black almandine-pyrope trapezohedron crystal looks gray-black in normal light. But, it glows with cherry-red color when strongly backlit. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are seldom available.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

11.1 x 10.4 x 1.5 cm. Three lustrous, dark wine-red almandine-pyrope garnet trapezohedrons, to 1.8 cm are aesthetically clustered on the sculptural schist matrix plate. Gorgeous cherry-red color lights up these translucent almandine-pyrope garnet crystals, when they are strongly backlit. Specimens from this obscure, privately owned locale are ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

A graphite-schist matrix hosts two sharp garnet crystals, deep red in color. The largest is 9 mm in diameter. When backlit you understand the name of the mine, because the garnets glow like embers in the ashes of a dying fire. A few small dravites are also scattered about the matrix. Specimen size: 10.1 x 5.2 x 1.4 cm (4.0 x 2.0 x 0.6 inches). ...

© Steve Hardinger and Dragon Minerals. All rights reserved.

Red almandine crystals (some backlit) and a few dark, elongated dravite crystals in graphite schist. rlh2065

Backlit almandine crystal in graphite schist.

© 2024

Dark red almandine crystals in a shiny gray graphite schist matrix.

© Beau Crockett

This is a cabinet-sized specimen of almandine crystals with dravite in graphite schist. This specimen was displayed by Colton Beardsley at the 2025 Cincinnati mineral show. Dimensions are an approximation. Jamison K. Brizendine photo.

© Jamison K. Brizendine

This is a striking and unusual large slab specimen featuring deep red almandine garnets set against a lustrous black graphite matrix with little dravite crystals. The almandine crystals are well-formed, displaying classic dodecahedral shapes with rich, wine-red to deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with the smooth, metallic sheen of the ...

This is a striking and unusual large slab specimen featuring deep red almandine garnets set against a lustrous black graphite matrix with little dravite crystals. The almandine crystals are well-formed, displaying classic dodecahedral shapes with rich, wine-red to deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with the smooth, metallic sheen of the ...

This is a striking and unusual large slab specimen featuring deep red almandine garnets set against a lustrous black graphite matrix with little dravite crystals. The almandine crystals are well-formed, displaying classic dodecahedral shapes with rich, wine-red to deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with the smooth, metallic sheen of the ...

This is a striking and unusual large slab specimen featuring deep red almandine garnets set against a lustrous black graphite matrix with little dravite crystals. The almandine crystals are well-formed, displaying classic dodecahedral shapes with rich, wine-red to deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with the smooth, metallic sheen of the ...

This is a striking and unusual large slab specimen featuring deep red almandine garnets set against a lustrous black graphite matrix with little dravite crystals. The almandine crystals are well-formed, displaying classic dodecahedral shapes with rich, wine-red to deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with the smooth, metallic sheen of the ...

This is a striking and unusual large slab specimen featuring deep red almandine garnets set against a lustrous black graphite matrix with little dravite crystals. The almandine crystals are well-formed, displaying classic dodecahedral shapes with rich, wine-red to deep burgundy hues that contrast beautifully with the smooth, metallic sheen of the ...

Faceted almandine gemstone.

© 2020 Harold Moritz