Garnet – Almandine

Description:

Almandite (ALL-man-dite) or almandine (ALL-man-deen) is a mineral species in the garnet group; cubic crystal system.

Appearance:

• transparent to semi-translucent (for very dark stones)
• reddish orange to red, slightly purplish red to reddish purple: typically dark in tone

Identification:

Optic Character: SR, often ADR 
Refractive Index: 1.790 (3.030)
Absorption Spectra: usually three strong bands at 504, 520, and 573 nm but may also show fainter lines at 423, 460, 610, and 680-690 nm
Cause of Color: iron 
Specific Gravity: 4.05 (+.25, -.12)
Hardness: 7 to 71/2 ; Toughness: fair to good

Stone Information from:

Gem Reference Guide, by GIA, ISBN 0-87311-019-6
Gemstones of the world, Third Edition, by Walter Schumann, ISBN 1-4027-4016-6
https://www.gemdat.org/gem-452.html
https://www.mindat.org/min-452.html