Difference between revisions of "Spessartite"

From The Gemology Project
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{spessartite}}
 
{{spessartite}}
  
[[Image:SpessartiteGT.gif|left|thumb|300px|Faceted Spessartite garnet<br />Photo courtesy of The Gem Trader]]<br clear="left" />
+
[[Image:Spessartite.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Nigerian Spessartite garnet<br />Photo courtesy of Lembeck Gems]]<br clear="left" />
  
 
==Diagnostics==
 
==Diagnostics==
Line 37: Line 37:
 
* Brazil
 
* Brazil
 
* Madagascar
 
* Madagascar
 +
* Mozambique
 +
[[Image:SpessartiteGT.gif|left|thumb|300px|Faceted Mozambique Spessartite garnet<br />Photo courtesy of The Gem Trader]]<br clear="left" />
 +
* Nigeria
 +
* Namibia
 +
* California

Revision as of 02:43, 16 February 2007

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

Diagnostics

Color

Red, reddish-orange to yellowish-brown.

Spectroscope

Spessartite shows a typical spectrum due to manganese.

Inclusions

  • Feathers of liquid droplets ("shredded inclusions").

Specific gravity

Spessartite sinks in all common heavy liquids.

Varieties

Mandarine/Kashmirine/Hollandine

Three names for the same intense orange variety of spessartite.

Malaia

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

Localities

  • Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
  • Burma
  • Brazil
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
Faceted Mozambique Spessartite garnet
Photo courtesy of The Gem Trader

  • Nigeria
  • Namibia
  • California