| Rhodolite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Pyrope variety, nesosilicate |
| 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 | 7.0–7.5 |
| Luster | greasy to vitreous |
| Specific gravity | 3.84±0.10 |
| Polish luster | vitreous |
| Optical properties | Single refractive, often anomalous double refractive |
| Refractive index | 1.760+0.010 −0.020 |
| Birefringence | none |
| Pleochroism | none |
| Dispersion | 0.026 |
| Ultraviolet fluorescence | inert |
| Absorption spectra | usually at 504, 520, and 573 nm, may also have faint lines at 423, 460, 610, and 680–690 nm |
| References | [1] |
Rhodolite is a varietal name for rose-pink to red mineral pyrope, a species in the garnet group. It was first described from Cowee Valley, Macon County, North Carolina.[2] The name is derived from the Greek "rhodon" for "rose-like", in common with other pink mineral types (such as rhodochrosite, rhodonite). This coloration, and the commonly inclusion-free nature of garnet from this locality, has led to rhodolite being used as a gemstone. Rhodolite like other varietal names is not officially recognized as a mineralogical term, but rather used as an accepted trade name.[3][4]
- ^ Gem Reference Guide. [Santa Monica, CA]: Gemological Institute of America, 1988. ISBN 0-87311-019-6.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Mindatwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lind, Thomas; Henn, Ulrich; Milisenda, Claudio C. (1998). "Comparative investigation of rhodolite garnets from different provenances". Gemmologie (Journal of the German Gemmological Association). 47 (1): 53–59. ISSN 0948-7395.
- ^ Lind, Thomas (2015). "Crystal chemistry and colour of garnets of commercially relevant gemstone occurrences". Gemmologie (Journal of the German Gemmological Association). 64 (1–2): 1–41. ISSN 0948-7395.