Difference between revisions of "Spessartite"
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{{spessartite}} | {{spessartite}} | ||
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+ | [[Image:Spessartite.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Nigerian Spessartite garnet<br />Photo courtesy of Lembeck Gems]] | ||
+ | [[Image:Spess_china.jpg |left|thumb|300px| Spessartite with Smoky Quartz<br />Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire]] | ||
+ | <br clear="left" /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{images}} | ||
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+ | 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]]). | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Loliondospess.jpg|thumb|left|600px|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]] | ||
+ | <br clear="left" /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===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|pyrope]]'' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Malaia garnet (or malaya garnet) is the red-orange variety of pyrope-spessartite.<br /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Inclusion images== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Mandarine garnet hf.jpg|left|thumb|240px|Inclusions in a manderine garnet<br />Photo courtesy of John Huff, gemcollections.com]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Spess3.JPG|thumb|280px|left|Double refractive crystal inclusion in a Loliondo, Tanzania spessartite. | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | © Tim Spauwen, FGA]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Spess2.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Crystal inclusions amidst the typical "sugary inclusions" in a Loliondo, Tanzania spessartite. | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | © Tim Spauwen, FGA]]<br /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Spess_incl1.jpg|thumb|240px|left|Crystal Inclusions. <br /> © Jamey Swisher, RGA]] | ||
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+ | |||
+ | |||
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+ | <br clear="all" /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Localities== | ||
+ | |||
+ | {| | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Sri Lanka (Ceylon) | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Burma | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Brazil | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Madagascar | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Mozambique | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Nigeria | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Namibia | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Tanzania | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * USA | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * China | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Pakistan | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Afghanistan | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Myanmar | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * India | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Italy | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Norway | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * France | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Germany | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Sweden | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Scotland | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * Russia | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:SpessartiteGT.gif|left|thumb|240px|Faceted Mozambique Spessartite garnet<br />Photo courtesy of The Gem Trader]]<br clear="left" /> |
Latest revision as of 20:03, 3 October 2010
Spessartite Garnet | |
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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 |
Spessartite is also named spessartine, both names are used interchangeably.
Contents
Diagnostics
Color
Orange, red, reddish-orange to yellowish-brown.
Spectroscope
Spessartite shows a typical spectrum due to manganese (idiochromatic) and some iron (from almandine).
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
Localities
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