Difference between revisions of "Almandine"
From The Gemology Project
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Almandine has a typical iron spectrum | Almandine has a typical iron spectrum | ||
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===Inclusions=== | ===Inclusions=== | ||
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===Rhodolite=== | ===Rhodolite=== | ||
− | [[ | + | [[File:Rhodolite_Garnet_7.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Faceted Rhodolite Garnet <br /> Photo courtesy of Rick Martin]]<br clear="left" /> |
Rhodolite is the purple (pinkish/violet) variety of pyrope-almandine. | Rhodolite is the purple (pinkish/violet) variety of pyrope-almandine. | ||
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Latest revision as of 18:33, 2 December 2012
Almandine Garnet | |
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Chemical composition | Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Iron aluminum silicate |
Crystal system | Cubic |
Habit | Dodecahedra |
Cleavage | None |
Hardness | 7.5 |
Optic nature | Isotropic |
Refractive index | 1.78-1.81 |
Birefringence | None |
Specific gravity | 3.95 - 4.20 |
Lustre | Vitreous |
Contents
Diagnostics
Color
Brownish red, red to violet/purple
Spectroscope
Almandine has a typical iron spectrum
Inclusions
- Short rutile needles in 3 directions
- Crystals surrounded by stress cracks
- Irregular and rounded crystals
Polariscope
Almandine is isotropic but may have a small DR.
Specific gravity
Almandine sinks in all common heavy liquids.
Optical effects
Almandine may show asterism and chatoyancy
Varieties
Rhodolite
Rhodolite is the purple (pinkish/violet) variety of pyrope-almandine.
Inclusions
Localities
India, USA, Brazil
Occurrence
Metamorphic rocks