Skip To Content
Go to gemstones.com homepage
Sign In
Recommended searches
Gemopedia
  • Ruby
  • Sapphire
  • Tanzanite
  • Diamond
  • Emerald
  • Opal
  • Moissanite
  • Peridot
  • All Gemstones in Gemopedia
Shop Gemstones
  • Shop Jedora Gemstones
  • Shop JTV Gemstones
Videos
  • All About Black Diamonds
  • Unboxing a Million Dollars in Gemstones!
  • Unboxing Emeralds: Gemologist vs. Geologist
  • Unboxing Rough Diamonds
  • Unboxing Garnet: Rhodolite, Pyrope, Demantoid
  • Marvel Cinematic Gemstones
  • All About Pearls and How They're Made
  • Fun Facts About Tanzanite
  • Freshwater Pearls vs. Saltwater Pearls
  • All Videos
Articles
  • Gemstone Collecting
  • Gemstone Beauty
  • Gemstone Color
  • Gemstone Origins
  • Optical Properties
  • Rare Gemstone Collecting
  • Gemstone Luster
  • Phenomenal Gemstones
  • All Articles
Showcase Collections
  • Quartz Gemstones
  • Organic Gemstones
  • American Gemstones
  • Birthstones
  • Mineral Specimens
  • Colors of Tourmaline
  • All Showcases
Gemstone Discovery App
  • Download the App
About Us
  • About Us
Feedback
  • Survey
Account
  • Account Information
  • Author Biography
  • Articles
  • Gemstones Home
  • Gemopedia

Spessartite

Garnet

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: November 2021
Spessartite Polished Spessartite Rough
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Spessartite Colors
  • Alternate Names
  • Countries of Origin
  • History
  • Care
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Related Videos

The name, spessartite or spessartine, is derived from the location of its original discovery in the Spessart Mountains in the Aschaffenburg district of Bavaria, Germany. The color of spessartine garnet ranges from yellow through orange to red, some material appearing brownish. The color prized most highly is an electric orange that is visually stunning. Mandarin garnet is the trade name for this bright orange variety of spessartine.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Spessartite
Species
Garnet
Transparency
Transparent
Dispersion
Strength: Moderate Fire Value: 0.027
Refractive Index
Over The Limit 1.810-1.810
Tolerance:(+0.004/-0.020)
Optic Character
NA
Optic Sign
NA
Polariscope Reaction
Singly Refractive (SR) With ADR
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert
LWUV: Inert
CCF Reaction
None
Pleochroism
None
Hardness
7-7.5
Streak
None
Specific Gravity
4.120-4.200 Range:0.05/-0.03 Typical:4.150
Toughness
Varies
Inclusions
Spessartine garnet is a type II clarity stone. Stones might have 2-phase, liquid inclusions that are feathery in appearance and rutile needle inclusions.
Luster
SubAdamantine, Vitreous
Stability
Good
Fracture
Conchoidal
Cleavage
None
Chemical Name
manganese aluminium silicate
Chemical Formula
Mn3Al2(SiO4)3
Crystal System
Cubic
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Spessartite Colors

  • Yellow Spessartite
    Yellow
  • Red Spessartite
    Red
  • Orange Spessartite
    Orange

Alternate Names

Spessartite Garnet, Mandarin Garnet If Bright Orange

Countries of Origin

Tanzania, United Republic Of; Myanmar; Sri Lanka; United States of America; Madagascar; Zambia; Thailand; India; Mozambique; Unknown; Malawi; China; Namibia; Brazil; Nigeria; Tajikistan

History

If you enjoy warm colors, this is the garnet for you. Ranging in color from mandarin orange to a southwest-sunset, reddish-orange shade, this stone will warm any ensemble. It's a great stone for winter wear, but don't leave it in your jewelry box in summer. A pretty dress, straw hat, and sandals - with one of the spessartine beauties - say summer in capital letters!

Care

Normal care

Optical Phenomena

Cat’s-Eye Spessartine Garnet

Cat’s-eye spessartine garnet has a singular light band on the surface of a gemstone created when light encounters hollow tubes, or parallel fibrous, or needle-like, inclusions within its crystal structure. Light that strikes the inclusions within the gem reflects off the inclusions, creating a narrow band of light. One known location is Namibia, but stones have been reported from Brazil and Sri Lanka.

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Cat’s-Eye Spessartine Garnet
CCF Reaction
None
Specific Gravity
4.12
Toughness
Fair
Inclusions
Hollow tubes, needle-like inclusions

Related Videos

Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

Sign up for the latest from Gemstones.com!

 
 
  • About Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us
  • Request a Partner Invitation

©  America's Collectibles Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.