Rhodolite

Gemmological properties

• Rhodolite garnets are members of the pyrope-almandine solid-solution series.
• Rhodolite garnets can have varying colors, ranging from lavender pink to raspberry red.
• The brilliance, durability, and lack of visible inclusions make rhodolites desirable in the jewelry industry.
• Rhodolite garnets are commonly faceted to enhance their brilliance.
• Heating rhodolites to 600°C (1,100°F) can cause them to change color to a hessonite brown permanently.

Natural sources

• Rhodolite deposits are found in countries belonging to the Mozambique belt, such as Kenya, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
• Other sources of rhodolites include Brazil, India, Norway, the United States, and Sri Lanka.

References

• Gem Reference Guide, published by the Gemological Institute of America, provides information on rhodolite.
• Mindat.org is a reliable source for information about rhodolite.
• Lind, Thomas; Henn, Ulrich; Milisenda, Claudio C. conducted a comparative investigation of rhodolite garnets from different origins.
• Lind, Thomas conducted research on the crystal chemistry and color of commercially relevant gemstone occurrences.
• Lindgranat, a garnet specialist in Germany, provides information on rhodolite.

Rhodolite description

• Rhodolite is a rose-pink to red mineral belonging to the garnet group.
• The name 'rhodolite' is derived from the Greek word 'rhodon,' meaning rose-like.
• Rhodolite is not officially recognized as a mineralogical term but is widely used as a trade name.
• Rhodolite garnets have a specific gravity of 3.84±0.10.
• They exhibit a vitreous luster and are often single refractive.

Optical properties

• Rhodolite garnets have a refractive index of 1.760+0.010−0.020.
• They do not exhibit birefringence or pleochroism.
• The dispersion of rhodolite garnets is 0.026.
• They have an inert ultraviolet fluorescence.
• Absorption spectra of rhodolite garnets usually show lines at 504, 520, and 573nm, with faint lines at 423, 460, 610, and 680–690nm.

Rhodolite Data Sources