AllMineralsRock
Spessartine
Spessartine is a popular mineral composed of manganese aluminum silicate. [1]
Spessartine: Quick Facts and Characteristics
Some quick facts for Spessartine:- Transparency: Spessartine can be translucent or transparent.
- Luster: In terms of luster, spessartine is vitreous (glassy).
- Streak: Spessartine streaks colorless.
- Hardness: Spessartine's hardness is 7 on the Moh's scale.
- Specific Gravity: Spessartine's specific gravity is 4.2.
Spessartine: Background and Summary
Spessartine is a mineral that belongs to the garnet group. It is a bright orange to reddish-brown colored mineral that is commonly found in granite pegmatites, as well as in metamorphic rocks. Spessartine has a hardness of 7.25 on the Mohs scale, which makes it a relatively hard mineral. It has a specific gravity of 4.12 to 4.3, which is slightly higher than that of quartz.One of the most distinctive features of spessartine is its color. It is typically an intense orange to reddish-brown color, which is due to the presence of manganese in its crystal structure. Spessartine can be easily identified by its color, as well as by its hardness and specific gravity. It can also be identified by its crystal habit, which is typically dodecahedral or trapezohedral.
Spessartine has a number of uses in industry and jewelry. It is often used as a gemstone, where it is cut into various shapes and sizes for use in rings, pendants, and other types of jewelry. It is also used in the production of abrasive materials, where it is used as a substitute for diamond. In addition, spessartine is used in the manufacture of semiconductors, where it is used as a substrate material.
Spessartine: Table of Properties
| Attribute | Spessartine (src) |
|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent |
| Chemical Formula | Mn3Al2Si3O12 |
| Chemical Composition | manganese aluminum silicate |
| Specific Gravity | 4.2 |
| Hardness | 7 |
| Streak | colorless |
| Hydrous | No |
| Colors | common: red, brown sometimes: yellow less common: gray, pink, black, orange, multicolor |
| Category | nesosilicate |
| Birefringence | none |
Spessartine: FAQ
Q: Is spessartine a rare mineral?A: Spessartine is not considered a rare mineral, but it is relatively uncommon. It is typically found in small quantities in granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks.
Q: What is the origin of the name spessartine?
A: Spessartine is named after the Spessart Mountains in Germany, where it was first discovered in the early 19th century.
Q: Can spessartine be found in jewelry?
A: Yes, spessartine is often used as a gemstone in jewelry. It is typically cut into various shapes and sizes and set in rings, pendants, and other types of jewelry.
Sources
- Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A., & Zussman, J. (2013). An introduction to the rock-forming minerals. Mineralogical Society.- Klein, C., & Dutrow, B. (2017). Manual of mineral science. John Wiley & Sons.
- Spessartine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spessartine
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