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The Gemstone Spessartite (Garnet)

Spessartite is an orange to orange-red form of the gemstone Garnet. The term Garnet describes a group name for several closely related minerals that form important gemstones, and Spessartite is an individual member mineral of the Garnet group. Spessartite is synonymous with Spessartine, though in the gem trade the name Spessartite is more frequently used, and in the mineral trade the term Spessartine is more frequently used. The term Spessartite is often identified together with the Garnet name and called Spessartine Garnet in the trade.

Color

Red, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink

Hardness

Chemical Formula

Mn₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂

Mineral Class

Spessartine (Garnet)

Additional Properties

Crystal System
Isometric

Refractive Index
1.795 - 1.815

Double Refraction
None

Transparency
Transparent

SG
4.1 - 4.2

Luster
Adamantine

Cleavage None

All About

Natural Spessartite has an orange color, but iron impurities are usually present, which give it an reddish-orange or brownish-orange color. Pure orange Spessartite is not common; reddish, brownish or yellowish tints are frequent. Its most desirable color is a fiery-red with slight orange tints. Spessartite has an exceptionally high refractive index, giving cut Spessartite gemstones a special brilliance.

Once fairly uncommon in gem-grade transparent specimens, many new deposits of large facetable Spessartite crystals with excellent color have been discovered, are are making this form of Garnet more readily available and mainstream. A very important deposit of this gemstone was discovered in the 1960's in the Umba River Valley of Tanzania and Kenya. The trade name of Malaya Garnet (or Malaia Garnet) was coined to describe these new African Garnets. Malaya Garnets are not pure Spessartite, but are intermediary between Spessartite and Pyrope, though closer in chemical composition to Spessartite.

Uses

Spessartite is gaining popularity as a beautiful orange-red gemstone, and can be used in all forms of jewelry especially in rings and pendants. It is also polished into cabochons for rings and bracelets.

Other Names

Spessartine

Varieties

Malaia Garnet - Synonym of Malaya Garnet.
Malaya Garnet - Reddish-orange form of Spessartite Garnet (or more accurately a mixture intermediary between Spessartite and Pyrope) that originates in the Umba River Valley in Tanzania and Kenya. This term is sometimes also used as a synonym for Spessartite.
Mandarin Garnet - Bright orange to orange-red Spessartite Garnet, usually originating from the African countries of Namibia and Mozambique.
Mandarin Spessartite - Synonym of Mandarin Garnet.
Namibian Spessartite - Bright orange-red Spessartite Garnet from Namibia.
Tangerine Garnet - Light orange to orange-yellow Spessartite Garnet, usually originating from the African countries of Namibia and Mozambique.

Treatments & Enhancements

Spessartite is is not enhanced and its beautiful colors are always natural.

The Gemstone Spessartite (Garnet) Sources

Important Spessartite sources are in Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Brazil, and the U.S. (California).

Similar Gemstones

Orange and orange-red Spessartite can be similar to Zircon, Spinel and Tourmaline. It can also be very similar to Fire Opal, though Fire Opal has a much lower hardness. Spessartite can also resemble Topaz as well as certain reddish forms of heat treated Citrine.