Rhodolite
Variety (Mg,Fe)3Al2(SiO4)3
About it
Purplish-red garnet between pyrope and almandine in makeup, lighter and brighter than plain almandine. Named after the rhododendron; first described from North Carolina and now mined in East Africa, India, and Sri Lanka.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Pyrope variety (garnet)
- Formula
- (Mg,Fe)3Al2(SiO4)3
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 7–7.5
- Specific gravity
- 3.74–3.94
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Isometric (cubic)
- Colours
- purplish red, raspberry, rose
- Transparency
- transparent
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; conchoidal to uneven fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.