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Rhodolite

Garnet

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: October 2022
Rhodolite Polished Rhodolite Rough Rhodolite Jewelry
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Rhodolite Colors
  • Alternate Names
  • Countries of Origin
  • History
  • Care
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Related Videos

Rhodolite is a mixture of pyrope and almandite garnets. The color ranges from pinkish purple to reddish purple. The name is derived from the Greek rhodon (rose) and lithos (stone). The most popular varieties of rhodolite garnet are grape color garnet and raspberry garnet. It has long been a favorite in the jewelry market.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Rhodolite
Species
Garnet
Transparency
Translucent-Transparent
Dispersion
Strength: Moderate Fire Value: 0.022
Refractive Index
1.750-1.780
Optic Character
NA
Optic Sign
NA
Polariscope Reaction
Singly Refractive (SR) With ADR
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert
LWUV: Inert
CCF Reaction
May appear reddish
Pleochroism
None
Hardness
7-7.5
Streak
White
Specific Gravity
3.740-3.940 Range:0.1/-0.1 Typical:3.840
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Rhodolite garnet is a type II clarity stone. Needle like inclusions, zircon crystals with stain halos and irregular rounded included crystals that might be zircon or apatite.
Luster
Vitreous
Stability
Good
Fracture
Conchoidal
Cleavage
None
Chemical Name
magnesium iron aluminum silicate
Chemical Formula
((Mg,Fe)3AL2(SiO4)3)
Crystal System
Cubic
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Rhodolite Colors

  • Pink Rhodolite
    Pink
  • Red Rhodolite
    Red
  • Pink Rhodolite
    Pink
  • Purple Rhodolite
    Purple
  • Red Rhodolite
    Red

Alternate Names

Grape Color Garnet, Raspberry Garnet

Countries of Origin

Tanzania, United Republic Of; Afghanistan; Sri Lanka; United States of America; Madagascar; Zambia; Kenya; Thailand; French Polynesia; India; Mozambique; Unknown; Malawi; China; Brazil; South Africa; Nigeria

History

Rhodolite was first described in the article On Rhodolite, a New Variety of Garnet by W.E. Hidden and J.H. Pratt in 1898 in the American Journal of Science. Most material today comes from the "Mozambique Belt" in Africa.

Care

Normal Care

Optical Phenomena

Cat's-Eye Rhodolite

Cat's-Eye Rhodolite Rhodolite
Cat's-Eye Rhodolite Rhodolite
  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Cat's-Eye Rhodolite
CCF Reaction
May appear reddish
Specific Gravity
3.74
Toughness
Fair
Inclusions
Pyrope-almandine garnet is a type II clarity stone. Needle like inclusions produce 4 to 6 rayed stars and will sometimes show both in well-cut stones. Stones might have zircon crystals with stain halos and irregular rounded included crystals that might be zircon or apatite.

Star or Cat's-Eye Rhodolite

Star or cat’s-eye rhodolite garnet exhibits optical phenomenon when light within the gem reflects off the rutile inclusions, creating narrow bands of light. When two or more intersecting bands appear, a star pattern is formed. Depending on the crystal, the star may have four or six rays. Stones have been reported with diasterism where both a 4-ray and a 6-ray star can be seen depending on the light orientation. The phenomenon comes from needle-like inclusions oriented at 70 and 110 degrees angles. When only one band forms, it is classified as a "cat's eye". Rhodolite star garnet comes from Kangala Mine, in the Tiriri mining district, Tanzania. The largest stone found from the Kangala Mine is 15.60ct.

Star or Cat's-Eye Rhodolite Rhodolite
Star or Cat's-Eye Rhodolite Rhodolite
  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Star or Cat's-Eye Rhodolite
CCF Reaction
May appear reddish
Specific Gravity
3.74
Toughness
Fair
Inclusions
Pyrope-almandine garnet is a type II clarity stone. Needle like inclusions produce 4 to 6 rayed stars and will sometimes show both in well-cut stones. Stones might have zircon crystals with stain halos and irregular rounded included crystals that might be zircon or apatite.

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