Large Red Embers Garnet in Graphite - Massachusetts

This is a large, almandine garnet in a graphite matrix from the Red Embers Mine near Erving, Massachusetts. At 0.66" wide it's quite large for the location and most of the surrounding matrix has been removed allowing it to display well.

The Red Embers Garnet Mine (previously known as the Two Fat Guys Mine) is located in Erving, Massachusetts. This mine is known for producing vibrant red, translucent almandine garnets in a graphite matrix. Mining of these specimens began over 20 years ago and to this day is still ongoing. The vein from which these specimens are extracted is composed primarily of graphite that ranges in size from 1 to 6 feet wide in some spots. The garnets are scattered throughout this graphite matrix along with black dravite tourmaline crystals.

The garnets from this mine exhibit vibrant red coloration, especially when backlit. For this reason, garnet specimens that are left in the graphite matrix are often worked along both sides to allow light to pass through the garnet, primarily with the help of air-abrasives. Some garnets are removed from the matrix to be cut and polished for jewelry application.

Photo of the diggings at the Red Embers Garnet Mine.

Extracting the garnets with the help of cutoff saws and heavy tools.

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