Rhodolite
| Rhodolite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Pyrope variety |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (Mg,Fe)3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Crystal system | cubic |
| Identification | |
| Color | light to dark purplish red through reddish purple |
| Cleavage | none, may show indistinct parting |
| Fracture | conchoidal |
| Mohs scale hardness | 7 - 7.5 |
| Luster | greasy to vitreous |
| Specific gravity | 3.84 (+/- .10) |
| Polish luster | vitreous |
| Optical properties | Single refractive, often anomalous double refractive |
| Refractive index | 1.760 (+.010, -.020) |
| Birefringence | none |
| Pleochroism | none |
| Dispersion | .026 |
| Ultraviolet fluorescence | inert |
| Absorption spectra | usually at 504, 520, and 573nm, may also have faint lines at 423, 460, 610 and 680-690nm |
| References | [1] |
Rhodolite is a varietal name for rose-pink to red mineral pyrope, a species in the garnet group. It is found in Cowee Valley, Macon County, North Carolina.[2] The name is derived from the Greek for "rose-like", in common with many pink mineral types (e.g. rhodochrosite, rhodonite), but rhodolite itself is not officially recognised as a mineralogical term. This colouration, and the commonly inclusion-free nature of garnet from this locality, has led to rhodolite being used as a semi-precious gemstone. Chemically, rhodolite is an iron-magnesium-aluminium silicate, part of the pyrope-almandine solid-solution series, with an approximate garnet composition of Py70Al30.
References
- ^ (Gia), Gemological. Gem Reference Guide. City: Gemological Institute of America (GIA), 1988. ISBN 0-87311-019-6
- ^ http://www.mindat.org/min-6719.html mindat.org: Rhodolite
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