Almandine, also known incorrectly as almandite, is a species of mineral belonging to the garnet group. The name is a corruption of alabandicus, which is the name applied by Pliny the Elder to a stone found or worked at Alabanda, a town in Caria in Asia Minor. Almandine is an iron alumina garnet, of deep red colour, inclining to purple. It is frequently cut with a convex face, or in cabochon, and is then known as carbuncle. Viewed through the spectroscope in a strong light, it generally shows three characteristic absorption bands.
It is also a popular gemstone and the maximum broadly used Garnet inside the gem trade. More gems are faceted from Almandine than some other kind of Garnet. Only a small amount of Almandine crystals are obvious and light enough for gemstone use; maximum of the Almandine observed is tough and opaque and no longer gem exceptional. Some Almandine Garnets show asterism while polished as cabochons, and are called "Star Garnets".
Occurence
Almandine is frequently embedded in a mica schists, and forms very quality matrix portions with flawlessly formed symmetrical crystals. The schist matrix often breaks up due to weathering, ensuing in the Almandine crystals breaking free into character, flawlessly shaped floater crystals which can be pretty massive.
Almandine deposits
Almandine happens rather abundantly in the gem-gravels of Sri Lanka, whence it has occasionally been known as Ceylon-ruby. When the color inclines to a violet tint, the stone is often known as Syriam garnet, a name stated to be taken from Syriam, an historic metropolis of Pegu (now a part of Myanmar). Large deposits of great almandine-garnets had been determined, a few years in the past, in the Northern Territory of Australia, and were in the beginning taken for rubies and thus they had been regarded in change for some time afterwards as Australian rubies.
Almandine is broadly dispensed. Fine rhombic dodecahedra occur inside the schistose rocks of the Zillertal, in Tyrol, and are once in a while cut and polished. An almandine wherein the ferrous oxide is replaced partly by way of magnesia is determined at Luisenfeld in German East Africa. In the United States there are many localities which yield almandine. Fine crystals of almandine embedded in mica-schist occur near Wrangell in Alaska. The coarse kinds of almandine are often crushed to be used as an abrasive agent.
Types of Almandine Garnet consist of Carbuncle, Merelini Mint Garnet, Thai Garnet, Grandite, and Precious Garnet. Some uncommon Almandine crystals from India or Idaho have asbestos inclusions that create a exceptionally prized, megastar-like impact while faceted. Precious, or Noble Garnet, is deep red and obvious. Brown and opaque Almandine is ferrous and aluminum-like with lines of manganese and/or magnesium.
Healing homes of Almandine
In this text, the metaphysical residences of Almandine Garnet are explored. Almandine is a strong regenerative recovery crystal bringing electricity and stamina, and aids stream and all blood related problems.
It is an exceptional crystal for fertility, sexual potency and libido. Emotionally, Almandine cultivates a experience of safety, protection and abundance. It is related to the First Chakra and has the healing power to help arouse the kundalini and maintain the ones energies grounded.
It is a stone of physical love and relationships, and a non secular stone of psychic protection. It increases self-control and resistance to all things poor. Almandine Garnet degrees in color from light to deep scarlet, dark red, and muted sunglasses of brown.
A host of angels are associated with its shade energies and it honours three Goddesses. Garnet is the conventional birthstone of January, and Almandine is the natural birthstones of those born within the first month of autumn and mid-autumn.
Garnet is the zodiac stone for the ones born beneath the signal Aquarius, and is an Enhancer Strengthener crystal. It has the houses of fire power and is a talisman of protection.
Physical Properties of Almandine
| Chemical Formula | Fe3Al2Si3O12 |
| Colour | Red, Black |
| Hardness | 7.5 - 8.5 |
| Crystal System | Isometric |
| Refractive Index | 1.780 - 1.810 |
| SG | 4.3 |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
| Double Refraction | None |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Cleavage | None. May exhibit parting. |
| Mineral Class | Almandine (Garnet) |
