Vesuvianite with Grossular and Diopside

A delightful specimen of a rod-like prismatic lustrous crystal of Vesuvianite measuring to 2.3 cm tall of dark greenish brown emerging from a druse of root beer-coloured Grossular Garnets.  This rare and fine small miniature is from near the Italian village of Bellecombe at Châtillon in the Aosta Valley.  This location is rightly famous for its long prismatic Vesuvianite crystals which occur in shades of both green and brown.  Also on this specimen are two tiny colourless Diopside crystals, similar to thin Quartz crystals in appearance.  The micro-crystals of Grossular coat one side of a thin matrix plate which is mounted vertically on a small square acrylic base.  An uncommon example of this rare combination of species from Bellecombe.