About
Almandine is often embedded in a mica schists, and forms very nice matrix pieces with perfectly formed symmetrical crystals. The schist matrix often breaks up due to weathering, resulting in the Almandine crystals breaking loose into individual, perfectly formed floater crystals which may be quite large.
Crystal Forms & Aggregates
Other ID Marks
Striking Features
Environment
Varieties
✓ common · ✗ uncommon
- Common Garnet— Refers to dark, brownish-red to black, opaque Almandine Garnet.
- Precious Garnet— Refers to a deep red, transparent form of Almandine or Pyrope Garnet.
- Syrian Garnet— Almandine Garnet with a slightly purplish tinge.
Uses
For more information, see the gemstone sections on Almandine and on Garnet.
Well formed Almandine crystals are very popular among mineral collectors. Almandine is also industrially important for use as an abrasive, and when used as a sandpaper, it is known as garnet paper.
Noteworthy Localities
Other important worldwide occurences include Šumperk, Moravia, Czech Republic; the Altay Mine in the Koktokay pegmatite field, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China; the Thackaringa District, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia; and Serrote Redondo, Pedra Lavrada, Paraíba, Brazil.
In the U.S., perhaps the most well-known occurrences are Garnet Ledge and the Sitkine River on Wrangell Island, Alaska. This locality produces excellent crystals embedded in a shiny mica schist matrix. The Barton Garnet Mine, in Gore Mountain, North River, Warren Co., New York, touts itself as the world's largest Garnet mine, producing extensive amounts of Almandine for use as garnet paper. Very large crystals have come from there, they are all crude and incomplete. Large and historic Almandine crystals were found in various construction projects on the island of Manhattan (New York Co.) in New York City, New York over the past two centuries. In fact, one the largest complete Almandine crystals ever found in the U.S. originated from Midtown Manhattan, and is dubbed the "Subway Garnet".
The New England states have a number of important Almandine occurrences, including Green's Farm, Roxbury, Litchfield Co., Connecticut (sadly this locality has just become closed to collectors); the Nathan Hall Quarry, East Hampton, Middlesex Co., Connecticut; the Russell Garnet mine, Russell, Hampden Co., Massachusetts; Greenwood, Oxford Co., Maine; and Mt. Apatite, Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Maine. Excellent trapezohedral crystals came from the Hedgehog Hill Quarry, Peru, Oxford Co., Maine.
Enormous Almandine crystals were found in the Sedalia Mine, Salida, Chaffee Co., Colorado, often coated with a mica layer; and lustrous dark crystals come from Garnet Hill, Ely, White Pine Co., Nevada. North Carolina has several localities, most noteworthy is Spruce Pine, Mitchell Co. Large Almandine crystals, including those that display asterism, are found at Emerald Creek, Latah Co; and Fernwood, Benewah Co., Idaho.
Common Mineral Associations
Distinguishing Similar Minerals
Grossular - Usually lighter in color than Almandine, and often found in specific localities where Almandine is not found; otherwise indistinguishable by ordinary means.
Andradite - Other than locality differences, Andradite and Almandite cannot be indistinguishable by ordinary means.
Spinel - Forms different crystals than Almandine.
Ruby - Harder (9), usually more intense red, different crystal forms.
Photos
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