RAINBOW GARNET 'ANDRADITE'
This is a nautral stone of a rare garnet from Japan -This stone came from a japanese collector who was one of the last to get access to the area in 2005 when the area was closed to collectors. Apparently some have been arrested for entering the area after that date.
This gems stone is considered a collectors item due to mining being stopped .

Some sides have been lightly polished to show the colour.
it is hard to capture the beauty in these stones in a photo.

The garnet crystal has strong play of color like peacock ore, but some crystals have stronger play of colour like Opal. This garnet is domestically called super rainbow garnet because of the stronger play of colour. The strength of play of colour varies depending on viewing angles. The characteristics of iridescence are quite similar to the other iridescent minerals. This iridescent garnet was found early 2004 in Tenkawa village, Yoshino district, Nara Pref. Japan.