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Almandine

This page kindly sponsored by Donald B Peck
Almandine

Garnet Ledge, Wrangell, Wrangell Island, Wrangell-Petersburg Borough, Alaska, USA
Almandine

Granatenkogel north slope, Gaisberg valley, Obergurgl, Gurgler valley, Ötz valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
Almandine

Mt Lady Franklin, Barnawartha North, City of Wodonga, Victoria, Australia
Almandine

Garnet Ledge, Wrangell, Wrangell Island, Wrangell-Petersburg Borough, Alaska, USA
Almandine

Granatenkogel north slope, Gaisberg valley, Obergurgl, Gurgler valley, Ötz valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
Almandine

Mt Lady Franklin, Barnawartha North, City of Wodonga, Victoria, Australia
Almandine

Garnet Ledge, Wrangell, Wrangell Island, Wrangell-Petersburg Borough, Alaska, USA
Almandine

Granatenkogel north slope, Gaisberg valley, Obergurgl, Gurgler valley, Ötz valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
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About AlmandineHide

Formula:
Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Colour:
Deep red, brownish red, red-violet, black
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
7 - 7½
Specific Gravity:
4.318
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named in 1546 by Georgius Agricola [Georg Bauer] for Alabanda in Turkey, an ancient gem cutting center, presumably where almandine was fashioned into gemstones.
Garnet Group. Almandine-Pyrope Series, Almandine-Spessartine Series.

Most common garnet. Occurs in metamorphic and pegmatitic rocks.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Almandine.


Classification of AlmandineHide

IMA status:
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Strunz 8th ed.:
8/A.08-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) ed.:
9.AD.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Dana 8th ed.:
51.4.3a.2

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [6] and >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:
16.17.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
17 : Aluminosilicates of Fe

Physical Properties of AlmandineHide

Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Deep red, brownish red, red-violet, black
Comment:
may be sectored
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7 - 7½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Parting:
On {110}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.318 g/cm3 (Measured)    4.313 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of AlmandineHide

Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.83
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
Very High
Comments:
Anomalously biaxial.

Chemical Properties of AlmandineHide

Formula:
Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Elements listed:
Al, Fe, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AlmandineHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Ia3d
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.526 Å
Unit Cell V:
1,531.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Typically well-formed dodecahedra or trapezohedra, to 1 m; also in rounded grains and massive.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Type Occurrence of AlmandineHide

Synonyms of AlmandineHide

Other Language Names for AlmandineHide

Basque:Almandino
Czech:Almandin
Dutch:Almandien
French:Almandin
Galician:Alabandina
Hungarian:Almandin
Italian:Almandino
Lithuanian:Almandinas
Polish:Almandyn
Simplified Chinese:铁铝榴石
贵榴石
Slovenian:Almandin
Spanish:Almandita
Swedish:Almandin
Traditional Chinese:鐵鋁榴石
貴榴石

Varieties of AlmandineHide

DhanrasiteA variety of pyralmandine, Garnet group. Stannian garnets, in particular stannian pyrope-almandine.

Originally reported from Dhanras Hills, Gaya District, Bihar, India.
Star GarnetA variety of almandine exhibiting a four-rayed or rarely six-rayed star due to oriented inclusions of rutile. The Idaho state gemstone.

Relationship of Almandine to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Garnet Group > Garnet Supergroup
Other Members of this group:
AndraditeCa3Fe3+2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
Calderite(Mn2+,Ca)3(Fe3+,Al)2(SiO4)3Iso.
EringaiteCa3Sc2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
GoldmaniteCa3V3+2(SiO4)3Iso.
GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
KnorringiteMg3Cr2(SiO4)3Iso.
MajoriteMg3(Fe2+,Si,Al)2(SiO4)3Iso.
Menzerite-(Y){(Y,REE),(Ca,Fe2+)}3{(Mg,Fe2+),(Fe3+,Al)}2[SiO4]3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
Momoiite(Mn2+,Ca)3V3+2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
MorimotoiteCa3(Ti,Fe2+,Fe3+)2((Si,Fe3+)O4)3Iso.
PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3Iso.
SpessartineMn2+3Al2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
UvaroviteCa3Cr2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
Forms a series with:
PyropeAlmandine-Pyrope Series
SpessartineAlmandine-Spessartine Series

Common AssociatesHide

Albite-Anorthite SeriesFeldspar Group.
Amphibole SupergroupAX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
BiotiteA series or subgroup of the Mica Group.
Chlorite GroupA group of mostly monoclinic (also triclinic or orthorhombic) micaceous phyllosilicate minerals with a structure ...
Cordierite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
HematiteFe2O3
KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Pyroxene GroupA large group of inosilicate (chain silicate) minerals with the general formula ABSi2O6.
SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
StauroliteFe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH)
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Quartz126 photos of Almandine associated with Quartz on mindat.org.
Muscovite125 photos of Almandine associated with Muscovite on mindat.org.
Biotite75 photos of Almandine associated with Biotite on mindat.org.
Staurolite74 photos of Almandine associated with Staurolite on mindat.org.
Schorl58 photos of Almandine associated with Schorl on mindat.org.
Microcline27 photos of Almandine associated with Microcline on mindat.org.
Albite-Anorthite Series24 photos of Almandine associated with Albite-Anorthite Series on mindat.org.
Albite18 photos of Almandine associated with Albite on mindat.org.
Fluorapatite17 photos of Almandine associated with Fluorapatite on mindat.org.
Beryl16 photos of Almandine associated with Beryl on mindat.org.

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz GroupingHide

9.AD.AdrianiteCa12(Al4Mg3Si7)O32Cl6Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
9.AD.05LarniteCa2SiO4Mon.
9.AD.10Calcio-olivineCa2SiO4Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
9.AD.15MerwiniteCa3Mg(SiO4)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.AD.20BredigiteCa7Mg(SiO4)4Orth.
9.AD.25AndraditeCa3Fe3+2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25Calderite(Mn2+,Ca)3(Fe3+,Al)2(SiO4)3Iso.
9.AD.25GoldmaniteCa3V3+2(SiO4)3Iso.
9.AD.25GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25HenritermieriteCa3(Mn3+,Al)2(SiO4)2(OH)4Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd
9.AD.25HibschiteCa3Al2(SiO4)3-x(OH)4xIso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25HydroandraditeCa3Fe3+2(SiO4)3-x(OH)4x
9.AD.25KatoiteCa3Al2(SiO4)3-x(OH)4x (x = 1.5-3)Iso.
9.AD.25KimzeyiteCa3(Zr,Ti)2((Si,Al,Fe3+)O4)3Iso.
9.AD.25KnorringiteMg3Cr2(SiO4)3Iso.
9.AD.25MajoriteMg3(Fe2+,Si,Al)2(SiO4)3Iso.
9.AD.25MorimotoiteCa3(Ti,Fe2+,Fe3+)2((Si,Fe3+)O4)3Iso.
9.AD.25PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3Iso.
9.AD.25SchorlomiteCa3(Ti,Fe3+)2((Si,Fe3+)O4)3Iso.
9.AD.25SpessartineMn2+3Al2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25UvaroviteCa3Cr2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25Wadalite(Ca,Mg)6(Al,Fe3+)4((Si,Al)O4)3O4Cl3Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
9.AD.25HoltstamiteCa3(Al,Mn3+)2(SiO4)2(OH)4Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd
9.AD.25KerimasiteCa3Zr2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25ToturiteCa3Sn2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25Momoiite(Mn2+,Ca)3V3+2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.25EltyubyuiteCa12Fe3+10Si4O32Cl6Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
9.AD.25HutcheoniteCa3Ti2(SiAl2)O12Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
9.AD.30CoffiniteU(SiO4) · nH2OTet.
9.AD.30HafnonHfSiO4Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd
9.AD.30ThoriteTh(SiO4)Tet.
9.AD.30ZirconZr(SiO4)Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd
9.AD.30Stetindite-(Ce)Ce(SiO4)Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd
9.AD.35HuttoniteThSiO4Mon.
9.AD.35Tombarthite-(Y)Y4(Si,H4)4O12-x(OH)4+2xMon.
9.AD.40EulytineBi4(SiO4)3Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
9.AD.45ReiditeZrSiO4Tet. 4/m : I41/a

Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)Hide

51.4.3a.1PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3Iso.
51.4.3a.3SpessartineMn2+3Al2(SiO4)3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
51.4.3a.4KnorringiteMg3Cr2(SiO4)3Iso.
51.4.3a.5MajoriteMg3(Fe2+,Si,Al)2(SiO4)3Iso.
51.4.3a.6Calderite(Mn2+,Ca)3(Fe3+,Al)2(SiO4)3Iso.

Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals GroupingHide

16.17.2Macaulayite(Fe,Al)24Si4O43(OH)2Mon.

Other InformationHide

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

References for AlmandineHide

Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Rossman, G.R., Rauch, F., Livi, R., Tombrello, T.A., Shi, C.R., Zhoi, Z.Y. (1988) Nuclear reaction analysis of hydrogen in almandine, pyrope and spessartine garnets. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Monatshefte: 4: 172-178.
Armbruster, T., Geiger, C.A., Lager, G.A. (1992) Single-crystal X-ray structure study of synthetic pyrope almandine garnets at 100 and 293 K. American Mineralogist: 77: 512-521.
Wang, L., Essene, E.J., Zhang, Y. (2000) Direct observation of immiscibility in pyrope-almandine-grossular garnet. American Mineralogist: 85: 41-46.

Internet Links for AlmandineHide

Localities for AlmandineHide

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