Spessartine

The name is a derivative of Spessart in Bavaria, Germany, the type locality of the mineral.

Spessartine is an orange to red-brown colour variety of Garnet.

Spessartine Gemstones by Colour

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

Spessartine Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Spessartine 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:0.08 cts
Heaviest:88.74 cts
Average:5.25 cts
Total photos:95
Do you have a larger Spessartine? Why not upload a photo?
0.08ct to 8.95ct8.95ct to 17.81ct17.81ct to 26.68ct26.68ct to 35.54ct35.54ct to 44.41ct44.41ct to 53.28ct53.28ct to 62.14ct62.14ct to 71.01ct71.01ct to 79.87ct79.87ct to 88.74ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Garnet Group
Varieties/Types:
Kashmirine - Spessartine from Kashmir.
Mandarin Garnet - A fiery reddish-orange spessartine.
Other Names/Trade Names:
Chemical Formula
Mn
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Photos of natural/un-cut material from mindat.org
Physical Properties of Spessartine
Mohs Hardness7 to 7.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Specific Gravity4.12 to 4.18
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
TenacityBrittle
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
Cleavage QualityNone
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
FractureConchoidal
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
More from other references
Optical Properties of Spessartine
Refractive Index1.789 to 1.820
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Optical CharacterIsotropic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Anomalous double refractionMore from other references
Dispersion0.027
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Colour
Colour (General)Yellowish-orange, orange, orange-red, red, brownish-red
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Causes of ColourOrange, Mn2+ 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 Spessartine
Crystal SystemIsometric
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
HabitDodecahedral, trapezohedral
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
More from other references
Geological Environment
Where found:Common in granite pegmatites, granites, and rhyolites. Formed in some skarns and metasomatic manganese-rich rocks adjacent to igneous intrusions or in regionally metasomatized areas.
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
Inclusions in Spessartine
"Fingerprint" (made up of 2 phase inclusions), rutile needles - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p. 3
Further Information
Mineral information:Spessartine information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Afghanistan
 
  • Kunar
    • Dara-e-Pech District
Quinn and Laurs (2004)
Brazil
 
  • Minas Gerais
    • Conselheiro Pena
      • Penha do Norte
China
 
  • Fujian
    • Zhangzhou
      • Yunxiao Co.
        • Tongbei
Ottens (2004)
Madagascar
 
  • Vakinankaratra
    • Betafo District
      • Mahaiza
E.Ya. Kievlenko, Geology of gems, 2003, p. 112
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
Kyi et al. (2005)
        • Kyauk-Pyat-That
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Namibia
 
  • Kunene Region
    • Epupa
Palfi (2005)
Nigeria
 
Michelou (2007)
Michelou (2007)
Pakistan
 
  • Gilgit-Baltistan
    • Shigar District
      • Braldu Valley
        • Hoh Nala
Blauwet (2008)
Sri Lanka
 
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
      • Ratnapura
Tanzania
 
  • Arusha Region
    • Ngorongoro district
      • Loliondo
Pardieu (2007)
USA
 
  • California
    • San Diego County
      • Ramona Mining District
        • Ramona
Laurs and Knox (2001)
      • Warner Springs Mining District
        • Chihuahua Valley
mindat.org
  • Virginia
    • Amelia County
      • Amelia (Amelia Court House)
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