Almandine

Big Photo

Madagascar
4.16 carats
© gemselect.com

A species of mineral belonging to the Garnet group. The name derived from the town Alabanda, Caria in Asia Minor. Almandine is an iron alumina Garnet, of deep red color, inclining to purple.

Almandine Gemstones by Colour

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

Almandine Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Almandine 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:0.23 cts
Heaviest:6.72 cts
Average:1.93 cts
Total photos:35
Do you have a larger Almandine? Why not upload a photo?
0.23ct to 0.88ct0.88ct to 1.53ct1.53ct to 2.18ct2.18ct to 2.83ct2.83ct to 3.48ct3.48ct to 4.12ct4.12ct to 4.77ct4.77ct to 5.42ct5.42ct to 6.07ct6.07ct to 6.72ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Garnet Group
Chemical Formula
Fe
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Physical Properties of Almandine
Mohs Hardness7 to 7.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Specific Gravity3.95 to 4.30
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
TenacityBrittle
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Cleavage QualityIndistinct
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
FractureConchoidal
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Optical Properties of Almandine
Refractive Index1.770 to 1.820
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)
Dispersion0.027
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Chatoyancy(Rare) star 4/6/12
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Colour
Colour (General)Red, violet-red
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Causes of ColourRed, Fe2+ in distorted cubic 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)Inert
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Crystallography of Almandine
Crystal SystemIsometric
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
HabitTrapezohedral, dodecahedral
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Inclusions in Almandine
Rutile needles intersecting on different planes (70°-110°), low-relief rounded crystals - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p. 3
Zircons with tension cracks, oriented rutile needles, apatite - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 27
Further Information
Mineral information:Almandine information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Austria
 
  • Tyrol
    • Schwaz District
      • Finkenberg
Staebler and Pohwat (2008)
Staebler and Pohwat (2008)
Staebler and Pohwat (2008)
      • Mayrhofen
Staebler and Pohwat (2008)
Brazil
 
Eeckhout et al. (2004)
Canada
 
  • Nunavut
    • Qikiqtaaluk Region
      • Baffin Island
Wilson (2007)
India
 
  • Andhra Pradesh
    • Visakhapatnam District
Viswanatha (1982)
  • Rajasthan
    • Ajmer District
G. Choudhary and J. Panjikar (2009)
    • Jaipur district
Viswanatha (1982)
    • Jhunjhunu District
Viswanatha (1982)
    • Jodhpur Division
      • Sirohi District
G. Choudhary and J. Panjikar (2009)
Madagascar
 
  • Alaotra-Mangoro
    • Ambatondrazaka District
      • Ambatosoratra Commune
F. Danet (2009)
  • Anosy
    • Taolagnaro District
      • Andranobory
Schmetzer et al. (2001, 2002)
  • Ihorombe
    • Ihosy District
      • Sakalalina
F. Danet (2009)
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
      • Mogok Township
        • Bernardmyo
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Chaung-gyi
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Mogok Valley
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • On-dan
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Pein-Pyit (Painpyit; Pyan Pyit)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Pakistan
 
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
    • Lower Dir District
Jackson (1992)
Russia
 
  • Republic of Karelia
    • Pitkyarantsky District
      • Kitelya
P. Lyckberg (2009)
Sri Lanka
 
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
      • Ratnapura
G. Zoysa (2009)
USA
 
  • Alaska
    • Wrangell City and Bourough
Crawford et al. (2005)
  • Idaho
    • Benewah County
      • Camas Cove Mining District
Ream (2000)
  • Montana
    • Lewis and Clark County
      • East Helena
        • Eldorado Bar
E.Ya. Kievlenko (2003) Geology of gems, p. 70
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