Pyrope garnet: The mineral Pyrope information and pictures

About

Pyrope is a member of the Garnet group, and it makes a popular dark red gemstone. Pyrope is often free of flaws with good transparency, making it an important jewelry gemstone. Pyrope is much rarer than its Almandine counterpart, but it is generally more transparent and has less flaws than Almandine. A well-known environment of Pyrope is kimberlite pipes, where it can be associated together with Diamonds.

Crystal Forms & Aggregates

As single dodecahedral and trapezohedral crystals, and sometimes with slight growth modifications. Crystals are usually rounded or distorted, and are only occasionally well-formed. Also in dense crystal aggregates and in grainy form. Crystals are usually embedded unless found in placer deposits, where they are single and rounded.

Striking Features

Color, crystal form, hardness, and localities

Environment

In intrusive igneous ultramafic rocks such as peridotite and kimberlite. Also in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks and in placer deposits.

Varieties

✓ common · ✗ uncommon

Rhodolite— In gemstone terms, the expression Rhodolite usually refers to a rose-red form of Garnet that has a lighter color or more purplish color than typical Garnet gemstones. In mineral terms, it refers to an intermediary variety between the Pyrope and Almandine series, usually containing more magnesium than iron thus leaning closer towards Pyrope.
See the gemstone Rhodolite for more detailed information.

Uses

The main use of Pyrope is as a gemstone. Its deep red color gives it special distinction, and it is a very popular Garnet gem. Pyrope is also crushed for use as an abrasive for the production of Garnet paper.

See the gemstone section on Pyrope, Rhodolite, and Garnet for more information.

Noteworthy Localities

Pyrope is not a common mineral, and there are fewer localities for this Garnet than all other common Garnets with the exception of Uvarovite. European localities include Vestrev, Bohemia, Czech Republic; Gorduno, Ticino, Switzerland; Almklovdal, Sunnmore, Norway; and Elie Ness, Fife, Scotland (known locally as "Elie Ruby"). A more recent occurrence of Pyrope is from Martiniana Po, Piedmont, Italy, where it is found in relatively large crystals coated with a white to pale green mica.

Important African deposits of gem Pyrope include the Umba River Valley, in the Tanga Region, Tanzania; and Lokirima, Turkana District, Kenya. Pyrope is also found in many of the South African Diamond mines, such as the famous Kimberly Mine.

In the U.S., the most significant Pyrope deposit is near San Carlos (in the San Carlos Indian Reservation), Gila and Graham counties, Arizona. Significant deposits also exist near Fort Defiance (Buell Park and Garnet Ridge), Apache Co., Arizona. The variety Rhodolite comes from Cowee Creek, Macon Co., North Carolina. In Canada, Pyrope is found in Joli Township, Quebec.

Common Mineral Associations

Olivine, Phlogopite, Hypersthene, Olivine, Arsenopyrite, Magnetite, Apatite, Diamond

Distinguishing Similar Minerals

Almandine - Usually in different environments, and often browner in color; otherwise difficult to distinguish.
Grossular - Rarely as deep red as Pyrope.
Andradite - Usually occurs in crystal groupings, whereas Pyrope occurs in individual crystals; otherwise indistinguishable by ordinary means
Spinel - Occurs in different crystal types than Pyrope.
Ruby - Harder (9), usually lighter in color, different crystal forms.