Garnet · Variety of Garnet
Rhodolite
Raspberry red, purple-red, pinkish purple
Pink
Purple
Red
Optical characteristics
- Ref. index
- 1.74 – 1.77
- Luster
- Vitreous to adamantine
- Pleochroism
- None None; garnets are singly refractive and isotropic.
- Fluorescence
- Usually inert.
Source localities
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Ratnapura / Elahera
Premium
★ Top Source
Classic Ceylon source for sapphire and many alluvial gems; known for bright colors and good clarity.
Tanzania
Tanzania: Merelani Hills
Major
Major source for tanzanite, garnet, spinel, tourmaline, ruby and fancy sapphires.
Brazil
Brazil: Minas Gerais / Paraíba / Bahia
Major
Major source for beryl, tourmaline, quartz, topaz, chrysoberyl and rare minerals.
Tanzania
Tanzania: Umba Valley
Notable
Umba Valley alluvial rhodolite garnet deposits.
Mozambique
Mozambique: Montepuez / Alto Ligonha / Cuamba
Major
Major modern source for ruby, garnet, tourmaline and Paraíba-type tourmaline.
Inclusions & features
Crystals Crystal Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may…
Fractures Feathers and Fractures
Under 10x loupe: irregular internal surfaces that catch light and appear bright, wing-like, or…
Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look…
Clouds Pinpoint Clouds
Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small…
Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Instruments used
10x Loupe
Your most-used instrument, start every examination here
Polariscope
Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive
Refractometer
Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification
UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave
Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin