metamorphic
Pink Garnet in Matrix
Grossular or Almandine Garnet (X3Y2(SiO4)3)
Hardness: 6.5-7.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Deep pink to reddish-brown crystals in a gray/black matrix. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Crystal structure: Isometric (dodecahedral). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Deep pink to reddish-brown crystals in a gray/black matrix
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Deep pink to reddish-brown crystals in a gray/black matrix. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Crystal structure: Isometric (dodecahedral). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed under high-pressure, high-temperature metamorphic conditions within the Earth's crust, typically in regional metamorphic belts or contact metamorphism zones involving schist or gneiss.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as mineral specimens for collectors, abrasive industrial uses (when crushed), and occasionally as semi-precious gemstones if the crystals are of high clarity.
Geological facts
Garnets have been used as gemstones and abrasives since the Bronze Age. The name 'garnet' comes from the Latin 'granatus', meaning seed-like, referring to their resemblance to pomegranate seeds.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by the distinct crystal shape (equant dodecahedrons) and high hardness compared to the surrounding matrix. Often found in micaceous schists or metamorphic rocks near tectonic plate boundaries.
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