Spessartite Garnet
Orange to reddish-brown garnet; the vivid orange variety from Namibia is commercially known as Mandarin garnet.
Physical & Optical Properties
RI Range1.790–1.815
SG Range4.12–4.18
SG Typical4.15
Hardness (Mohs)7–7.5
Crystal SystemCubic
Optic CharacterSR (Singly Refractive)
Dispersion0.027
Fluorescence LWInert
Fluorescence SWInert
Chelsea FilterInert
PleochroismNone
ColorsYellow Orange, Red Pink
SpeciesGarnet
VarietySpessartite
Related: Garnet Varieties
Key Differentiators
- Bright orange color
- High RI and SG
- Wavy feather-like inclusions
Common Simulants
- Hessonite Garnet: Hessonite: RI ~1.742 vs spessartite ~1.810; hessonite has distinctive "heat-haze" inclusion pattern under magnification.
- Citrine: Citrine: uniaxial negative DR; RI 1.544–1.553; SG 2.65; much lower RI; doubly refractive.
- Yellow-orange topaz: Topaz: biaxial positive; perfect basal cleavage; SG 3.53; RI 1.619–1.627; lower RI than spessartite.
- Glass: Isotropic; gas bubbles under loupe; SG varies; conchoidal fracture; no garnet absorption spectrum.
Commonly Confused With
Commonly confused with: Hessonite Garnet, Citrine, Topaz, glass, Clinohumite, Padparadscha Sapphire.
Price Context
Natural — low ($/ct)$100
Natural — high ($/ct)$1,500
NotePer carat; mandarin orange (fanta color) commands top prices; Namibian material premium
Price context is approximate. GemID is not an appraisal tool. Results are indicators, not certified valuations.
About Spessartite Garnet
Orange to reddish-brown garnet; the vivid orange variety from Namibia is commercially known as Mandarin garnet.
Identifying a spessartite garnet? GemID walks through these tests in order — RI, SG, fluorescence, and more.
Try GemID Free →