mineral
Garnet (Almandine)
Almandine (Fe3Al2(SiO4)3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6.5-7.5. Color: Deep red, brownish-red, or blackish-red. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Crystal structure: Isometric (dodecahedral). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 4.1-4.3.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Deep red, brownish-red, or blackish-red
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
Identified More mineral →
Explore Garnet (Almandine) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7.5. Color: Deep red, brownish-red, or blackish-red. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Crystal structure: Isometric (dodecahedral). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 4.1-4.3.
Formation & geological history
Commonly formed during the regional metamorphism of argillaceous sediments. It is found in metamorphic rocks like mica schists and gneisses, as well as some igneous rocks.
Uses & applications
Used widely as an abrasive (sandblasting, waterjet cutting), as a gemstone in jewelry, and as a filter medium in water purification.
Geological facts
Garnet is the birthstone for January. Almandine is the most common variety of the garnet group. It has been used in jewelry since Ancient Egyptian and Roman times.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic 'pomegranate seed' color, high density, and lack of cleavage. Found globally, often in riverbeds as water-worn pebbles or embedded in schist matrices.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous