Spessartite Garnet

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Spessartite Garnet has a specific gravity of 4.15 and a refractive index of 1.790–1.815, with a Mohs hardness of 7.0–7.5. It is singly refractive.

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

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.

Measurement Guides

Identifying a spessartite garnet? GemID walks through these tests in order — RI, SG, fluorescence, and more.

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Studying for the GIA, FGA, or FEEG practical? Spessartite Garnet is one of the 130 species in GemID’s drill and exam pool — practice identifying it from its measured properties under timed exam conditions.

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