Rhodolite

Big Photo

Sri Lanka
3.89 carats
© Mineral Classics

Purplish red or rose-color Garnet between pyrope and almandine in composition.

Rhodolite Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 
 

Rhodolite Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Rhodolite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.29 cts
Heaviest:46.17 cts
Average:3.44 cts
Total photos:100
Do you have a larger Rhodolite? Why not upload a photo?
0.29ct to 4.88ct4.88ct to 9.47ct9.47ct to 14.05ct14.05ct to 18.64ct18.64ct to 23.23ct23.23ct to 27.82ct27.82ct to 32.41ct32.41ct to 36.99ct36.99ct to 41.58ct41.58ct to 46.17ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Almandine-Pyrope, which is a variety of Garnet Group
Rhodolite Treatments
This material is reported by G.V. Rogers (unpublished observation) to change from purplish color to a hessonite-type brownish color on heating. A brief check confirmed this change at about 600°C in some rhodolites, but not in others; it could not be reversed by gamma irradiation – Nassau (1984)
Physical Properties of Rhodolite
Mohs Hardness7 to 7.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Specific Gravity3.84 +/-
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Optical Properties of Rhodolite
Refractive Index1.760 +/-
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Optical CharacterIsotropic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Anomalous double refraction
Colour
Colour (General)Red, brownish-red, violet-red
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Colour (Chelsea Filter)(Dark) red
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Causes of ColourReddish purple, Fe2+ in distorted cubic coordination
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Crystallography of Rhodolite
Crystal SystemIsometric
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Inclusions in Rhodolite
Orientied rutile needles, apatite, undulatory extinction - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 25
Further Information
Mineral information:Rhodolite information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Kenya
 
  • Turkana County
    • Lodwar
Barot (1993)
Mozambique
 
  • Niassa Province
J. Marques (2009)
Sri Lanka
 
  • North Central Province
G. Zoysa (2009)
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