Sapphirine: Vangaindrano, Fianorantsoa, Madagascar

Description

Species: Sapphirine in Biotite, Sillimanite, Anorthite

Locality: Vangaindrano, Fianorantsoa, Madagascar

Size: 7 x 6 x 5 cm.

We are excited to be offering world-class sapphirine crystals from Vangaindrano, Fianorantsoa, Madagascar. Sapphirine is an uncommon accessory mineral in granulite-facies metamorphic rocks around the world, but almost never forms large euhedral crystals. Around 2-3 years ago, a hence unknown locality called Vangaindrano in southeast Madagascar started producing what are, by an order of magnitude, the world’s finest examples of this species. Recently, we acquired the rest of this find, and are pleased to be selling superb examples of this species at prices that won’t break the bank. This excellent example features a very sharp, and very complete 5 x 4 cm. sapphirine crystal (very large for the species!) in a matrix of sillimanite and biotite. A “halo” or reaction rim of white anorthite feldspar has allowed this sapphirine crystal to develop with exceptional perfection. Mark Cross photo.