Pyrope (Garnet)

Color: Red with brown tint
Moh’s Hardness: 7.5
Refractive Index: 1.73-1.76
Critical Angle: 35.31°
Specific Gravity: 3.65-3.80
Cleavage: Imperfect
Fracture: Subconchoidal
Heat Sensitivity: Slightly
Birefringence (double refraction): 0.024
Crystal Structure: Isometric, rhombic, dodecahedron,icositetrahedron

Rhodolite (Garnet)

Rhodolite is actually classified as a Pyrope Garnet...

Color: Rose/red, purple/pink/red, violet/red

Rhodolite Garnets are pretty universal, and probably one of the most well know Garnets. They are readily available and not generally all that expensive. They are a good choice for anybody wanting to cut a nice Garnet.

 

What I prefer to polishing with: Alumina oxide with a tin lap (scored).

Jeff's Comments: Most Garnets cut and polish pretty easily (with the exception of a piece with bubbles/flaws) and a re really not much of a problem. Pre-polish with a 1200 steel (not Nu Bond, it will leave orange peel) and polish with tin lap. Watch for bubbles and silk...

Design Notes: Most of the red types of Garnet are saturated and I prefer checker boards and bar cut in them. On lighter Grossular Garnets and Mail types of Garnets I prefer a deeper design.

Design Links:
Tic Tac - Good for dark material
Smith Bar - Great for any material
Brilliant Pear - Nice in about anything

Rough Links:
Garnet - Index of Garnet Rough
Almandine - Bright Red Garnet from Umba (Africa), Rose Malaya Garnet from Tanzania, large Almandine Garnet, Malai Garnet from Kenya,
Collector Garnets - Large Mint Merelani Garnet, Mint Merelani Garnet, Voi (Kenya) color change Garnet, Tsavorite Garnet
Grossular - Mali Garnet from the Republic of Mali (Africa), chartreuse Mali, yellow Mali, green Mali, bronze Mali, gold Mali Garnet
Pyrope - Arizona "Anthill" Garnet (Chrome Pyrope), Grape Garnet from Brazil
Parcels of Garnets - Various Parcels
Rhodolite - Rhodolite parcels from Tanzania, Tanzania Rhodolite Garnets, Mombo Rhodolite from Africa, Lilac Rhodolite Garnet from Tanzania, Maralambo Garnet
Spessartite - Spessartite Garnet, Malaya Garnet, Hessonite Garnet

Bargain Links:
Garnets Bargains

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E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com