Spessartine Garnet
A species of Garnet Group, Also known as Mandarin Garnet, Kashmirine, Erinite (of Van Der Lingen), Spessartite Garnet Scientific name : Spessartine Mineral Group : Garnet Group
Spessartine Garnet, A species of Garnet Group
Also known as:
Mandarin Garnet, Kashmirine, Erinite (of Van Der Lingen), Spessartite Garnet
Scientific name: Spessartine
Mineral Group: Garnet Group
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Description
The remarkable appearance of spessartine Garnet creates a memorable rock experience, as it is a close relative to garnet. The name bestowed upon this beautiful rock comes from the Spessart Mountains in Germany, the location of the first discovery of these beauties. It is also called "Garnet of the Sun." They polish up beautifully and are a popular choice for ornamental jewelry.
Physical Properties
Colors
Red, reddish orange, yellowish brown, reddish brown, brown
Luster
Vitreous
Diaphaneity
TransparentToTranslucent
Refractive Index
1.789-1.820
Dispersion
0.027
Optical Character
Isotropic
Chemical Properties
Chemical Classification
Silicates
Formula
Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Elements listed
Al, Mn, O, Si
Common Impurities
Ti, Fe, Mg, Ca, H2O, Y
People often ask
General Info
How to Select
Spessartine Garnet is valuable due to its durability and appearance. Clarity and color are the most important features, but size and quality should also be considered. Saturated, pure orange is the least common and most desirable color, with yellow-orange coming in second. An orange variety tinged with gold or red is less valuable. The stone is significantly less expensive if it has inclusions. Synthesis of this mineral is done for both research purposes and the jewelry industry. Authentic stones can usually be identified by its deep coloration and inclusions.
Usage
Spessartine Garnet is a garnet that is most commonly used as a gemstone in jewelry. These gems are primarily used in rings and pendants, but also in bracelets and other jewelry. Interesting crystal formations of this mineral are also kept by collectors.
Formation
It occurs most often in granite pegmatite and allied rock types and in certain low-grade metamorphic phyllites.
Types
Spessartine of an orange-yellow has been called Mandarin garnet and is found in Madagascar. Violet-red spessartines are found in rhyolites in Colorado and Maine. In Madagascar, spessartines are exploited either in their bedrock or in alluvium. The orange garnets result from sodium-rich pegmatites. Spessartines are found in bedrock in the highlands in the Sahatany valley. Those in alluvium are generally found in southern Madagascar or in the Maevatanana region.
Spessartine forms a solid solution series with the garnet species almandine. Well-formed crystals from this series, varying in color from very dark-red to bright yellow-orange, were found in Latinka, Rhodope Mountains, Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria. Spessartine, like the other garnets, always occurs as a blend with other species. Gems with high spessartine content tend toward a light orange hue, while almandine prevalence induces red or brownish hues.
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