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A very rich specimen formed by numerous prismatic vesuvianite crystals, lustrous, transparent, and with a soft greenish hue. A very aesthetic specimen and of good size. This famous open-pit asbestos-chrysotile mine, approximately 2 km in diameter and up to 350 m deep, began exploitation in 1879. Global demand for asbestos dropped dramatically in the 1980s when its carcinogenic properties became known, and its use as a construction material was banned worldwide. In 1996, in an attempt to exploit a high-quality zone at the bottom of the mine, another attempt was made to switch to underground methods, but government subsidies dried up in 2001, and the mine has remained inactive ever since.
This miniature is a gem, formed by several grossular crystals, with brilliance, very well defined, transparent and with an intense color. Since the mine closed it is difficult to see specimens of this type. From a former Catalan collection.
The uvarovite specimens from the Jeffrey are not at all common. This specimen from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona, Catalunya) dates from the 70s, when some specimens were collected. Small but brilliant and transparent crystals of this garnet, extreme with chromium of the grosularia-uvarovite series.