Rhodolite

Rhodolite

Properties

  • Mineral: Garnet group
  • Chemistry: Rhodolite- (Mg,Fe)3Al2(SiO4)3
  • Colour: Purplish Red
  • Refractive index: 1.760 (+.010, −.020)
  • Specific gravity: 3.84 (+/− .10)
  • Mohs harness: 7–7.5

About Rhodolite

Rhodolite is a variety of the purplish red mineral pyrope, a species in the garnet group. The colour may vary from a rose-pink, a purple-pink, a purple-red, to a raspberry-red.

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Product Description

History

Rhodolite garnet gets its name from the Greek word, “rhodon”, meaning “rose coloured”, which refers to its purplish red hue. The use of red garnet dates back thousands of years. Egyptian pharaohs used garnets for both decorative and ceremonial purposes. The ancient Romans also wore garnet rings and traded garnet gemstones.

Sources

Deposits of rhodolite garnet have been found in Brazil, Greenland, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Norway, Sri Lanka, and the United States.

Quality

The best rhodolite garnets are a vivid raspberry-red colour.

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