Epidote Garnet Skarn

A close-up view of the garnet epidote rock.

Epidote garnet skarn, metamorphic rock, Marmoraton Mine, Ontario. Donated by Armbro Construction Ltd. During the "pacification" of Kashmiri in the 1890s, British army surgeons were surprised to find garnet crystals embedded in their patients. It is not known if the hostile Hunzas loaded their ancient flint locks with garnet bullets for their special powers, or because they had no lead. There is also the "pistachio nut" green mineral, epidote, in this rock.