Rhodolite
Rhodolite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Rhodolite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Rhodolite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:2.59 cts
Heaviest:19.15 cts
Average:6.00 cts
Total photos:14
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| General Information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A variety or type of: | Almandine-Pyrope, which is a variety of Garnet Group | ||||||||||||||||
| Rhodolite Treatments | |||||||||||||||||
| This material is reported by G.V. Rogers (unpublished observation) to change from purplish color to a hessonite-type brownish color on heating. A brief check confirmed this change at about 600°C in some rhodolites, but not in others; it could not be reversed by gamma irradiation – Nassau (1984) | |||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Rhodolite | |||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 7 to 7.5, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.84 +/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Rhodolite | |||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.760 +/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Isotropic, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Anomalous double refraction | ||||||||||||||||
| Colour | |||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Red, brownish-red, violet-red, Gemmological Tables (2004) | ||||||||||||||||
| Colour (Chelsea Filter) | (Dark) red, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Reddish purple, Fe2+ in distorted cubic coordination, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | ||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent, Gemmological Tables (2004) | ||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Rhodolite | |||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Isometric, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||||||||||||
| Inclusions in Rhodolite | |||||||||||||||||
| Orientied rutile needles, apatite, undulatory extinction - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 25 | |||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | |||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Rhodolite information at mindat.org | ||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||||||||||||
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