Spessartine
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Spessartine
Formula:
Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Colour:
Red, reddish orange, yellowish brown, reddish brown, or brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6½ - 7½
Specific Gravity:
4.12 - 4.32
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
Originally, this mineral from the Spessart Mountains was called "granatförmiges Braunsteinerz" by Martin Klaproth in 1797.
Distinguished as a "manganesian" garnet by Henry Seybert in 1823 using a specimen from Haddam, Connecticut, USA.
Renamed to spessartine in 1832 by François Sulpice Beudant after its type locality in the Spessart Mountains, Germany.
Distinguished as a "manganesian" garnet by Henry Seybert in 1823 using a specimen from Haddam, Connecticut, USA.
Renamed to spessartine in 1832 by François Sulpice Beudant after its type locality in the Spessart Mountains, Germany.
Garnet Group. Almandine-Spessartine Series.
Occurs in magmatic, metamorphic, and pegmatitic rocks.
An (OH,F)-rich, tetragonal-pseudocubic spessartine is described by Boiocchi et al. (2012).
Not to be confused with the rock Spessartite (lamprophyre).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Spessartine.
Occurs in magmatic, metamorphic, and pegmatitic rocks.
An (OH,F)-rich, tetragonal-pseudocubic spessartine is described by Boiocchi et al. (2012).
Not to be confused with the rock Spessartite (lamprophyre).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Spessartine.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3725
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3725:5
Similar Names
| Spessartite (lamprophyre) | A rock classification type |
IMA Classification of Spessartine
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Spessartine
9.AD.25
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
51.4.3a.3
51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [6] and >[6] coordination
51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [6] and >[6] coordination
16.16.2
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
16 : Aluminosilicates of Mn
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
16 : Aluminosilicates of Mn
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sps | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Spr | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
| Sps | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Sps | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Sps | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Spessartine
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Red, reddish orange, yellowish brown, reddish brown, or brown
Comment:
The “alexandrite effect” is when its colour changes from green in the presence of daylight to purplish red under incandescent light. The UV-Vis spectra show two zones of transmittance, in the red region at 650–700 nm and the blue-green region at 460–510 nm. The absorption bands of Cr3+ and V3+ at 574 nm in the UV-Vis spectra are the main cause of the change in colour.
There are transition metal elements in garnet, and the main theory of its color formation is crystal field theory. Fe2+ and Mn2+ are the main color-causing ions in purple pyrope–almandines, for Mg2+ is insignificant for the color of the samples. As an island silicate mineral, peridot’s beautiful color is also caused by Fe2+. However, it is worth noting that the almandine–skiagite’s brownish yellow color is caused by the charge transfer between element ions. Spessartine’s color is vivid orange. There are many research studies on the color causes and spectrum about spessartines; we find that the reason why spessartines appear a beautiful orange is not only the Mn2+ d-d electron transition, but also the valence charge transfer transition between Fe2+and Fe3+. They obviously absorb in the area of the blue-purple region, which makes the spessartines appear a bright color.
As one of the most promising colored gemstones on the market, spessartine is becoming increasingly popular. According to the CIE 1976 L*a*b*, the relationship between chroma C*, the h° and colorate coordinates a* and b* was analyzed. The chemical composition was analyzed according to ED-XRF, then we quantitatively analyzed the impact of the elements FeOtot and MnO and the ratio FeOtot/MnO on color parameters L*, h°. By analyzing the UV-visible spectrum of spessartines, we find the color mechanism of the samples. It is worth noting that this article is the first to studied the relationship between the peaks’ position in the infrared spectrum and the color parameters of spessartines. With the increase in MnO content, the A, C and D peaks in the infrared spectrum shifted from the region of high frequency to low frequency, the color parameters L* and h° both increased, and the spessartines’ color also changed from dark orange-red to bright orange.
There are transition metal elements in garnet, and the main theory of its color formation is crystal field theory. Fe2+ and Mn2+ are the main color-causing ions in purple pyrope–almandines, for Mg2+ is insignificant for the color of the samples. As an island silicate mineral, peridot’s beautiful color is also caused by Fe2+. However, it is worth noting that the almandine–skiagite’s brownish yellow color is caused by the charge transfer between element ions. Spessartine’s color is vivid orange. There are many research studies on the color causes and spectrum about spessartines; we find that the reason why spessartines appear a beautiful orange is not only the Mn2+ d-d electron transition, but also the valence charge transfer transition between Fe2+and Fe3+. They obviously absorb in the area of the blue-purple region, which makes the spessartines appear a bright color.
As one of the most promising colored gemstones on the market, spessartine is becoming increasingly popular. According to the CIE 1976 L*a*b*, the relationship between chroma C*, the h° and colorate coordinates a* and b* was analyzed. The chemical composition was analyzed according to ED-XRF, then we quantitatively analyzed the impact of the elements FeOtot and MnO and the ratio FeOtot/MnO on color parameters L*, h°. By analyzing the UV-visible spectrum of spessartines, we find the color mechanism of the samples. It is worth noting that this article is the first to studied the relationship between the peaks’ position in the infrared spectrum and the color parameters of spessartines. With the increase in MnO content, the A, C and D peaks in the infrared spectrum shifted from the region of high frequency to low frequency, the color parameters L* and h° both increased, and the spessartines’ color also changed from dark orange-red to bright orange.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
6½ - 7½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.12 - 4.32 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.19 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Spessartine
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.800
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Chemistry of Spessartine
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ti,Fe,Mg,Ca,H2O,Y
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiO2 | 35.83 % | 34.8 % | 35.1 % | 35.2 % | 36.3 % |
| TiO2 | 0.05 % | 0.05 % | 0.04 % | 0.10 % | 0.07 % |
| Al2O3 | 20.73 % | 20.5 % | 20.3 % | 19.9 % | 20.56 % |
| Cr2O3 | 0.03 % | ||||
| FeO | 20.42 % | 17.4 % | 0.6 % | 12 % | 2.06 % |
| MnO | 23.05 % | 21.3 % | 40.0 % | 28.1 % | 40.67 % |
| MgO | 0.00 % | 0.77 % | 0.29 % | ||
| CaO | 0.23 % | 0.62 % | 0.26 % | 0.18 % | |
| Na2O | 0.02 % | 0.12 % | 0.08 % | ||
| Fe2O3 | 1.0 % | 3.6 % | 2 % | ||
| K2O | |||||
| Sc2O3 | 0.084 % | 0.011 % | |||
| REE2O3 | 1.41 % | 0.045 % | 0.36 % | ||
| V2O5 | |||||
| ZnO | 0.048 % | 0.028 % | |||
| Y2O3 | 1.50 % | 0.052 % | 1.3 % | ||
| Total: | 100.36 % | 98.934 % | 100.405 % | 99.629 % | 99.84 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | sps54.43alm44,88 |
| 2 | alm42,29sps52,44 |
| 3 | sps96.97alm1.34 |
| 4 | sps68.89alm29.05 |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dassu, Braldu Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan | Analysis from the rim of a pegmatite garnet. | |
| 2 | Frikstad 07 Feldspar Quarry, Frikstad, Iveland, Agder, Norway | The sample is a homogenous garnet from "primitive" REE rich pegmatite. Sample analyzed with EMPA and LA-ICP-MS, and the results are the average of 6 analyzes. | |
| 3 | Solås Pegmatite, Iveland, Agder, Norway | Sample from cleavelandite zone in pegmatite. The sample is analyzed using EMPA and LA-ICP-MS, and the results are the average of 4 analyzes. | |
| 4 | " " | Sample from intermediate zone in pegmatite. The sample is analyzed using EMPA and LA-ICP-MS, and the results are the average of 4 analyzes | |
| 5 | Hercules Mine, Ramona, Ramona Mining District, San Diego County, California, USA | Analyzed sample is a light orangy yellow spessartine. Analysis by Cameca SX-50 electron microprobe, with minerals or synthetic compounds as standards, an accelerating voltage of 20 kV, sample current of 15 mA. |
Crystallography of Spessartine
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Ia3d
Setting:
Ia3d
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.621 Å
Unit Cell V:
1,569.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
euhedral crystals, dodecahedra or trapezohedra, or in combination with other cubic forms, to 10 cm.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009927 | Spessartine | Gramaccioli C M, Pilati T, Demartin F, (2002) Atomic displacement parameters for spessartine Mn3Al2Si3O12 and their lattice-dynamical interpretation Acta Crystallographica B58 965-969 |  | 2002 | Elba Isle, Campo, Italy | 0 | 293 |
| 0000241 | Spessartine | Novak G A, Gibbs G V (1971) The crystal chemistry of the silicate garnets sample Sp American Mineralogist 56 791-825 |  | 1971 | Minas Gerais, Brazil | 0 | 293 |
| 0002788 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002787 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002786 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002785 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002784 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002783 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002782 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002781 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002780 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002779 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002778 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002777 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002776 | Spessartine | Rodehorst U, Geiger C A, Armbruster T (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions American Mineralogist 87 542-549 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001299 | Spessartine | Smyth J R, Madel R E, McCormick T C, Munoz J L, Rossman G R (1990) Crystal-structure refinement of a F-bearing spessartine garnet American Mineralogist 75 314-318 | | 1990 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.91 Å | (25) |
| 2.60 Å | (100) |
| 2.37 Å | (16) |
| 1.886 Å | (20) |
| 1.681 Å | (20) |
| 1.614 Å | (30) |
| 1.557 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4a: Earth’s earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
| 19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
| 20 : Acidic volcanic rocks | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies) |
Type Occurrence of Spessartine
Synonyms of Spessartine
Other Language Names for Spessartine
Dutch:Spessartien
Hungarian:Spessartin
Italian:Spessartina
Japanese:満ばん柘榴石
Russian:Спессартин
Simplified Chinese:锰铝榴石
Spanish:Espesartina
Spessartina
Spessartina
Varieties of Spessartine
| Brandãosite | An Almandine-Spessartine low in (Al,Fe)2O3 [Clark, 1993, "Hey's Mineral Index"]. Originally reported from Mangualde, Viseu District, Portugal. |
| Calcium-Eisenspessartin | A variety of spessartine containing considerable Ca and Fe. Compare also calderite. |
| Emildine | An yttrium-bearing variety of spessartine. Originally reported from Walvis Bay (Walvisbaai) District, Erongo Region, Namibia. |
| Johnstonotite | Dark red calcian spessartine containing trace impurities. |
| Scandium-bearing Spessartite | |
| Spandite | Ca-Fe-rich spessartine or Mn-Al-rich andradite. |
| Vanadium-bearing Spessartine | Occurs in metacherts. Contains up to 8.36 wt.% V2O3. |
Relationship of Spessartine to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Garnet Group:
| Almandine | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| 'Blythite' | Mn2+3Mn3+2[SiO4]3 | |
| Calderite | Mn2+3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Eringaite | Ca3Sc2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Goldmanite | Ca3V3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| 'Khoharite' | Mg3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 | |
| Knorringite | Mg3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Majorite | Mg3(MgSi)(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Menzerite-(Y) | (Y2Ca)Mg2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Momoiite | Mn2+3V3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Morimotoite | Ca3(TiFe2+)(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Pyrope | Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Rubinite | Ca3Ti3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| 'Skiagite' | Fe2+3Fe3+2[SiO4]3 | |
| 'UM1984-37-SiO:CrMn' | Mn2+3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 | |
| Uvarovite | Ca3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1,449 photos of Spessartine associated with 'Smoky Quartz' | SiO2 |
| 798 photos of Spessartine associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 779 photos of Spessartine associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 703 photos of Spessartine associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 667 photos of Spessartine associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 272 photos of Spessartine associated with Schorl | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 254 photos of Spessartine associated with Feldspar Group | |
| 173 photos of Spessartine associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 120 photos of Spessartine associated with 'Aquamarine' | |
| 113 photos of Spessartine associated with Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.AD. | Adrianite | Ca12(Al4Mg3Si7)O32Cl6 |
| 9.AD.05 | Larnite | Ca2SiO4 |
| 9.AD.10 | Calcio-olivine | Ca2SiO4 |
| 9.AD.15 | Merwinite | Ca3Mg(SiO4)2 |
| 9.AD.20 | Bredigite | Ca7Mg(SiO4)4 |
| 9.AD.25 | Midbarite | Ca3Mg2(V5+2Si)O12 |
| 9.AD.25 | Menzerite-(Y) | (Y2Ca)Mg2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Uvarovite | Ca3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Eltyubyuite | Ca12Fe3+10Si4O32Cl6 |
| 9.AD.25 | Eringaite | Ca3Sc2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Henritermierite | Ca3Mn3+2(SiO4)2[◻(OH)4] |
| 9.AD.25 va | 'Hydrougrandite' | (Ca,Mg,Fe2+)3(Fe3+,Al)2[(OH)4(SiO4)2] |
| 9.AD.25 | Calderite | Mn2+3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Nikmelnikovite | Ca12(Fe2+Fe3+3Al3◻)[SiO4]6[◻(OH)4]5◻4 |
| 9.AD.25 | Hutcheonite | Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Wadalite | (Ca,Mg)6(Al,Fe3+)4((Si,Al)O4)3O4Cl3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Rubinite | Ca3Ti3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Kerimasite | Ca3Zr2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Holtstamite | Ca3Al2(SiO4)2[◻(OH)4] |
| 9.AD.25 | Toturite | Ca3Sn2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Kimzeyite | Ca3Zr2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'Khoharite' | Mg3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Irinarassite | Ca3Sn2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Knorringite | Mg3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Goldmanite | Ca3V3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'Blythite' | Mn2+3Mn3+2[SiO4]3 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'Skiagite' | Fe2+3Fe3+2[SiO4]3 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'UM1984-37-SiO:CrMn' | Mn2+3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Almandine | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 va | 'Yamatoite' | (Mn2+,Ca)3(V3+,Al)2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Momoiite | Mn2+3V3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Morimotoite | Ca3(TiFe2+)(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Majorite | Mg3(MgSi)(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Pyrope | Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Schorlomite | Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.30 | Hafnon | Hf(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 | Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 | Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| 9.AD.30 | Thorite | Th(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 va | 'Auerlite' | near Th(Si,P)O4 |
| 9.AD.30 | Stetindite-(Ce) | Ce4+SiO4 |
| 9.AD.35 | 'Tombarthite-(Y)' | Y4(Si,H4)4O12-x(OH)4+2x |
| 9.AD.35 | Huttonite | ThSiO4 |
| 9.AD.40 | Eulytine | Bi4(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.45 | Reidite | Zr(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.55 | Jeffbenite | Mg3Al2Si3O12 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Spessartine in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Spessartine
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3725.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Spessartine
Reference List:
Gorgeu, Alex. (1883) Sur la production artificielle de la Spessartine. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 6 (8) 283-284 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1883.1829
Geller, S., Miller, C. E. (1959) Substitution of Fe3+ for Al3+ in synthetic spessartite. American Mineralogist, 44 (5-6) 665-666
Novak, G. A., Gibbs, G. V. (1971) The crystal chemistry of the silicate garnets. American Mineralogist, 56 (5-6) 791-825
Smyth, Joseph R., Madel, Robin E., Mccormick, Tamsin C., Munoz, James L., Rossman, George R. (1990) Crystal structure refinement of a F-bearing spessartine garnet. American Mineralogist, 75 (3-4) 314-318
Hofmeister, A.M., Chopelas, A. (1991) Vibrational spectroscopy of end-member silicate garnets. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 17 (6). 503-526 doi:10.1007/bf00202230
Geiger, Charles A., Armbruster, Thomas (1997) Mn3Al2Si3O12 spessartine and Ca3Al2Si3O12 grossular garnet; structural dynamic and thermodynamic properties. American Mineralogist, 82 (7-8). 740-747 doi:10.2138/am-1997-7-811
Laurs, Brendan M., Knox, Kimberly (2001) Spessartine Garnet from Ramona, San Diego County, California. Gems & Gemology, 37 (4) 278-295 doi:10.5741/gems.37.4.278
Arredondo, Elizabeth H., Rossman, George R., Lumpkin, Gregory R. (2001) Hydrogen in spessartine-almandine garnets as a tracer of granitic pegmatite evolution. American Mineralogist, 86 (4) 485-490 doi:10.2138/am-2001-0412
Rodehorst, Uta, Geiger, Charles A., Armbruster, Thomas (2002) The crystal structures of grossular and spessartine between 100 and 600 K and the crystal chemistry of grossular-spessartine solid solutions. American Mineralogist, 87 (4) 542-549 doi:10.2138/am-2002-0417
Diella, Valeria, Sani, Alessandra, Levy, Davide, Pavese, Alessandro (2004) High-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of spessartine and uvarovite: A comparison between different equation of state models. American Mineralogist, 89 (2) 371-376 doi:10.2138/am-2004-2-317
Boiocchi, Massimo, Bellatreccia, Fabio, Della Ventura, Giancarlo, Oberti, Roberta (2012) On the symmetry and atomic ordering in (OH,F)-rich spessartine: towards a new hydrogarnet end-member. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 227 (7). 385-395 doi:10.1524/zkri.2012.1487
Localities for Spessartine
Showing 1,603 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Quick NavTopAbout SpessartineUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Chemical AnalysisCrystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesVarietiesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationSpessartine in petrologyInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Rosina vein, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell'Elba, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy