Rhodolite

Add one script tag to your page:

<div data-gemfyi="entity" data-slug="rhodolite"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/gemfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>

Embed as an iframe:

<iframe src="https://gemfyi.com/iframe/entity/rhodolite/?style=modern&theme=light" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%"></iframe>

Paste the URL in WordPress, Medium, or Ghost:

https://gemfyi.com/gems/rhodolite/

Shields.io-compatible SVG badge:

![Rhodolite](https://gemfyi.com/badge/entity/rhodolite.svg)

Web Component:

<gemfyi-entity slug="rhodolite"></gemfyi-entity>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/gemfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>

Rhodolite is a purplish-red to raspberry variety of pyrope-almandine garnet whose name derives from the Greek for rose-colored stone, its hue caused by iron and chromium. It is recovered from alluvial deposits in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, India, and North Carolina, and has become one of the most popular garnets in modern jewelry for its vivid pinkish-red tones. A high refractive index, strong brilliance, and characteristic freedom from visible inclusions make rhodolite a highly desirable gem, while its Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 supports regular wear. As a natural, untreated garnet, it owes its color entirely to its composition. Crystallizing in the isometric system with a refractive index near 1.76 and a specific gravity of about 3.84, rhodolite is most often faceted to showcase its brilliance.

Physical & Optical Properties

Category Semi-Precious Gems

Mohs Hardness 7.0 – 7.5

Specific Gravity 3.84

Refractive Index 1.76

Crystal System Isometric

Color various

Mohs Hardness

Mohs Hardness: 7.0 – 7.5

1 Soft10 Hard

Crystal System

Value & Market

Price Tier Moderate ($50-500/ct)

Where to Buy Rhodolite

Blue Nile Fine jewelry retailer

James Allen Gemstone jewelry

Brilliant Earth Ethically sourced gems

Amazon Wide selection

Links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

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This material is reported by G.V. Rogers (unpublished observation) to change from purplish color to a hessonite-type brownish color on heating.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) 7 to 7.5Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references 3.84 +/-Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references 1.760 +/-Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references IsotropicHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Anomalous double refraction Red, brownish-red, violet-redUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) (Dark) redHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Reddish purple, Fe2+ in distorted cubic coordinationW. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) TransparentUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) IsometricHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Orientied rutile needles, apatite, undulatory extinction - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 25 Rhodolite information at mindat.org Kenya  Barot (1993) Mozambique  J. Marques (2009) Sri Lanka  G. Zoysa (2009)

About Rhodolite

Rhodolite is an attractive purplish-red to raspberry variety of pyrope-almandine garnet, whose name derives from the Greek for rose-colored stone, and whose color is caused by iron and chromium. It is found in alluvial deposits in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, India, and North Carolina, USA, and has become one of the most popular garnet varieties in modern jewelry for its vivid pinkish-red hues. Rhodolite's excellent brilliance, high refractive index, and lack of visible inclusions make it a very desirable gem.