Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Pyrope

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Martiniana Po, Po Valley, Dora Maira Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy

Show Pyrope Photos (70)



Formula:
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
System:IsometricColour:Blood red, orange red, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:7½
Member of:Garnet Structural Group
Name:From the Greek, pyropos, "fiery-eyed" in allusion to the red hue.


Garnet Group.
Almandine-Pyrope Series, Knorringite-Pyrope Series, Pyrope-Grossular Series.

Occurs predominantly in ultrabasic igneous rocks.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Pyrope. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Pyrope

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.08-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AD.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.4.3a.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [6] and >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.7.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
7 : Aluminosilicates of Mg
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3321.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Pyrope

Type Locality:Czech Republic
Year of Discovery:1803

Physical Properties of Pyrope

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Blood red, orange red, purple red, pink, or black red
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):7½

Crystallography of Pyrope

Crystal System:Isometric
Cell Parameters:a = 11.45Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,501.12 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Pyrope

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Pyrope

Formula:
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Essential elements:Al, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,Ca

Relationship of Pyrope to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Almandine (see here)
Forms a series with Knorringite (see here)
Forms a series with Grossular (see here)
Forms a series with Majorite (see here)
Forms a series with Spessartine (see here)
Member of:Garnet Structural Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Almandine
Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Berzeliite
NaCa
 
2
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
Bitikleite-(SnAl)
Ca
 
3
SbSn(AlO
 
4
)
 
3
Bitikleite-(SnFe)
Ca
 
3
SbSn(Fe
3+
 
O
 
4
)
 
3
Bitikleite-(ZrFe)
Ca
 
3
SbZr(Fe
3+
 
O
 
4
)
 
3
Blythite
Mn
2+
3
Mn
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Goldmanite
Ca
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Henritermierite
Ca
 
3
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
Irinarassite
Ca
 
3
Sn
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
12
Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3-x
(OH)
 
4x
Kerimasite
Ca
 
3
Zr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(Fe
3+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
Khoharite
Mg
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
((Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
)
 
3
Knorringite
Mg
 
3
Cr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Menzerite-(Y)
{(Y,REE)(Ca,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
}[(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)]
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
Momoiite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Morimotoite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
)
 
3
Palenzonaite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
CaMn
2+
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
Schäferite
Ca
 
2
NaMg
 
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
)
 
3
Skiagite
Fe
2+
3
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
Spessartine
Mn
2+
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Toturite
Ca
 
3
Sn
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(Fe
3+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
Uvarovite
Ca
 
3
Cr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Yafsoanite
Ca
 
3
Zn
 
3
(TeO
 
6
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AD.05Larnite
Ca
 
2
SiO
 
4
9.AD.10Calcio-Olivine
Ca
 
2
SiO
 
4
9.AD.15Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
9.AD.20Bredigite
Ca
 
7
Mg(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
9.AD.25Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Almandine
Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Goldmanite
Ca
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Henritermierite
Ca
 
3
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.25Hibschite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3-x
(OH)
 
4x
9.AD.25Hydroandradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3-x
(OH)
 
4x
9.AD.25Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3-x
(OH)
 
4x
9.AD.25Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
((Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Knorringite
Mg
 
3
Cr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Morimotoite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Spessartine
Mn
2+
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Uvarovite
Ca
 
3
Cr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Wadalite
(Ca,Mg)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
((Si,Al)O
 
4
)
 
3
O
 
4
Cl
 
3
9.AD.25Holtstamite
Ca
 
3
(Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.25Kerimasite
Ca
 
3
Zr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(Fe
3+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
9.AD.25Toturite
Ca
 
3
Sn
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(Fe
3+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
9.AD.25Momoiite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.30Coffinite
(U
4+
 
,Th)(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
(OH)
 
4x
9.AD.30Hafnon
HfSiO
 
4
9.AD.30Thorite
(Th,U)SiO
 
4
9.AD.30Thorogummite
(Th,U)(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
(OH)
 
4x
9.AD.30Zircon
ZrSiO
 
4
9.AD.30Stetindite
Ce
4+
 
SiO
 
4
9.AD.35Huttonite
ThSiO
 
4
9.AD.35Tombarthite-(Y)
Y
 
4
(Si,H
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
12-x
(OH)
 
4+2x
9.AD.40Eulytine
Bi
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.45Reidite
ZrSiO
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.7.2Sapphirine
(Mg,Fe)
 
4-x
Al
 
4+x
[Al
 
4+x
Si
 
2-x
O
 
18
]O
 
2
16.7.3Sapphirine-1A
(Mg,Al,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
[(Al,Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
O
 
18
]O
 
2
16.7.4Magnesiochloritoid
MgAl
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
 
2
16.7.5Kulkeite
Mg
 
8
Al(AlSi
 
7
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
10
16.7.6Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
16.7.7Saponite
Ca
 
0.25
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
16.7.8Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.7.9Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
16.7.10Baumite
(Mg,Al,Mn,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Pyrope

Synonyms:
Arizona RubyBohemian GarnetBöhmischer GranatCape RubyColorado Ruby
Elie RubyGreenlandite (of Klaproth)Pyrope GarnetVogesite
Other Languages:
Dutch:Pyroop
German:Vogesit
Hungarian:Pirop
Italian:Piropo
Japanese:苦礬柘榴石
Lithuanian:Piropas
Polish:Pirop
Russian:Пироп
Simplified Chinese:镁铝榴石
Slovak:Pyrop
Spanish:Vogesita
Swedish:Pyrop
Ukrainian:Піроп
Varieties:
Chromian PyropeRhodoliteTitanian PyropeUmbalite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Pyrope

Reference List:

- +
Klaproth, M.H. (1797): Untersuchung des böhmischen Granats, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Zweiter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 16-21

American Mineralogist (1971): 56: 791.

Kolesnik, Y.N., Nogteva, V.V., and Paukov, I.Y. (1977) The specific heat of pyrope at 13 to 300 K and the thermodynamic parameters of some natural varieties of garnet. Geochemistry International 1977: 126-133.

Richet, P. and Bottinga, Y. (1984b) Anorthite, andesine, wollastonite, diopside, cordierite, and pyrope thermodynamics of melting, glass transitions, and properties of the amorphous phases. Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 67: 415-432.

Rossman, G.R., Rauch, F., Livi, R., Tombrello, T.A., Shi, C.R., and Zhoi, Z.Y. (1988) Nuclear reaction analysis of hydrogen in almandine, pyrope and spessartine garnets. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Monatshefte: 4: 172-178.

Hofmeister, A.M. and Chopelas, A. (1991) Thermodynamic properties of pyrope and grossular from vibrational spectroscopy. American Mineralogist: 76: 880-891.

American Mineralogist (1992): 77: 512-521.

Pavese, A., Artioli, G., and Moze, O. (1998) Inelastic neutron scattering from pyrope powder: experimental data and theoretical calculations. European Journal of Mineralogy: 1: 59-70.

Wang, L., E.J. Essene, & Y. Zhang (1999): Mineral inclusions in pyrope crystals from Garnet Ridge, Arizona, USA; implications for processes in the upper mantle. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 135: 164-178.

Gwanmesia, G.D., J. Liu, G. Chen, S. Kesson, S.M. Rigden, & R.C. Liebermann (2000): Elasticity of the pyrope (Mg3Al2Si3O12) - majorite (MgSiO3) garnets solid solution. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 27: 445-452.

Kolesov, B.A. and Geiger, C.A. (2000): Low-temperature single-crystal Raman spectrum of pyrope. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 27: 645-649.

Wang, L., Essene, E.J., and Zhang, Y. (2000): Direct observation of immiscibility in pyrope-almandine-grossular garnet. American Mineralogist: 85: 41-46.

Li, L., Hongbo Long, Paul Raterron, & Dnald Weidner (2006): Plastic flow of pyrope at mantle pressure and temperature. American Mineralogist: 91: 517-525.

Internet Links for Pyrope

Search Engines:
  • Look for Pyrope on Google
  • Look for Pyrope images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Pyrope on Webmineral
  • Look for Pyrope on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Pyrope on Wikipedia
  • Look for Pyrope on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Pyrope details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Pyrope specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Buy minerals from YourMineralCollection
  • Search for - Pyrope - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Pyrope specimens
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Pyrope

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Show Locality List (299 Items)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 17th May 2013 13:59:32
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds
    Locality Updated: Jenkins Hillemory Quarry (Richardson; Timertone; Emery; Rosemite Cement; Yosemite Cement), Clearing House, Clearing House District, East Belt, Mariposa Co., California, USAFrom Chester S. Lemanski, Jr., 18th May 2013 16:47:46