Spessartite

Spessartite Garnet
Chemical composition	Mn3Al2(SiO4)3 Manganese aluminum silicate
Crystal system	Cubic
Habit	Dodecahedra
Cleavage	None
Hardness	7
Optic nature	Isotropic
Refractive index	1.795-1.815
Birefringence	None
Specific gravity	4.12-4.20
Lustre	Vitreous

Nigerian Spessartite garnet
Photo courtesy of Lembeck Gems

Spessartite with Smoky Quartz
Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire

Spessartite image gallery

Spessartite is also named spessartine, both names are used interchangeably.

Diagnostics

Color

Orange, red, reddish-orange to yellowish-brown.

Spectroscope

Spessartite shows a typical spectrum due to manganese (idiochromatic) and some iron (from almandine).

Spectra of a spessartite from the Loliondo deposit in tanzania which was discovered in 2007. The graphs represent the transmission spectrum taken with the aid of a spectrometer, the spectrum below is what you will see through a spectroscope

Inclusions

• Feathers of liquid droplets ("shredded inclusions"), negative crystals, crystal inclusions, "suger"; multiple tiny grains (Tanzanian stones) , small colorless fibers of tirodite which cause a sleepy look (Namibian stones)

Specific gravity

4.12 - 4.20

Spessartite sinks in all common heavy liquids.

Chelsea Colour Filter

Spessartite will show red under the CCF.

Varieties

Mandarine/Kashmirine/Hollandine

Three names for the same intense orange variety of spessartite.

Malaia

Main entry: pyrope

Malaia garnet (or malaya garnet) is the red-orange variety of pyrope-spessartite.

Inclusion images

Inclusions in a manderine garnet
Photo courtesy of John Huff, gemcollections.com

Double refractive crystal inclusion in a Loliondo, Tanzania spessartite.
© Tim Spauwen, FGA

Crystal inclusions amidst the typical "sugary inclusions" in a Loliondo, Tanzania spessartite.
© Tim Spauwen, FGA

Crystal Inclusions.
© Jamey Swisher, RGA

Localities

Sri Lanka (Ceylon)	Burma	Brazil
Madagascar	Mozambique	Nigeria
Namibia	Tanzania	USA
China	Pakistan	Afghanistan
Myanmar	India	Italy
Norway	France	Germany
Sweden	Scotland	Russia

Faceted Mozambique Spessartite garnet
Photo courtesy of The Gem Trader