Pyrope

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Mozambique
1.42 carats
© gemselect.com

Pyrope is the only member of the garnet family to always display red coloration in natural samples, and it is from this characteristic that it gets its name: from the Greek for fire and eye.

Pyrope Gemstones by Colour

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

Pyrope Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Pyrope 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:0.26 cts
Heaviest:10.52 cts
Average:2.77 cts
Total photos:32
Do you have a larger Pyrope? Why not upload a photo?
0.26ct to 1.29ct1.29ct to 2.31ct2.31ct to 3.34ct3.34ct to 4.36ct4.36ct to 5.39ct5.39ct to 6.42ct6.42ct to 7.44ct7.44ct to 8.47ct8.47ct to 9.49ct9.49ct to 10.52ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Garnet Group
Varieties/Types:
Chrome Pyrope - A violet chrome-bearing variety of pyrope.
Chemical Formula
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Pyrope Simulants
Imitations are made with red glass. - Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p 104
Physical Properties of Pyrope
Mohs Hardness7 to 7.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Specific Gravity3.62 to 3.87
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
TenacityBrittle
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
Cleavage QualityIndistinct
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
FractureConchoidal
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Optical Properties of Pyrope
Refractive Index1.720 to 1.756
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
Optical CharacterIsotropic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Anomalous double refractionMore from other references
PleochroismAbsent
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Dispersion0.022
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Colour
Colour (General)Red, brownish-red
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Colour change: violet/redMore from other references
Causes of ColourBrownish-red, Fe2+ in distorted cubic coordination. Red, Fe2+ in distorted cubic site plus Cr3+ in octahedral coordination. Color change (in pyrope and pyrope-spessartine), V3+ and/or Cr3+ in octahedral coordination
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
LustreVitreous
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Mostly none
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Crystallography of Pyrope
Crystal SystemIsometric
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
HabitRare in crystal form
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
More from other references
Geological Environment
Where found:In ultramafic rocks, as peridotites, kimberlites, eclogites, serpentinites, and in "hornblende"-garnet-plagioclase rocks and anorthosites. Also in amphibole and biotite schists, and as a detrital mineral.
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
Inclusions in Pyrope
Low-relief rounded crystals (such as apatite and zircon), acicular crystals - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 3
Further Information
Mineral information:Pyrope information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
China
 
  • Fujian
    • Sanming
    • Ding'an Co.
      • Penglai
  • Jiangsu
    • Nanjing
Czech Republic
 
  • Ústí nad Labem Region
    • Litoměřice District
      • Podsedice
Zang and Gilg (2008)
Kenya
 
  • Turkana County
    • Lodwar
Barot (1993)
Kyrgyzstan
 
  • Naryn Region
Madagascar
 
  • Androy
    • Bekily District
      • Ambahita
        • Color-changing Garnet Mining Field
Henn (1999)
Mongolia
 
  • Arkhangai Province
    • Hangai highland
      • Tariat Volcanic Province
Dill et al. (2004, 2006)
Russia
 
  • Sakha
    • Mirninsky District
      • Daldyn
P. Lyckberg (2009)
      • Mirny
P. Lyckberg (2009)
Sri Lanka
 
  • North Central Province
Milisenda and Henn (1999)
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
      • Ratnapura
Chandrajith et al. (1998)
  • Uva Province
    • Monaragala District
Chandrajith et al. (1998)
Zambia
 
  • Eastern Province
Johnson et al. (1999)
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