Rhodolite

Infobox mineral
name = Rhodolite
category = Pyrope variety
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formula = (Mg,Fe)₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
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color = light to dark purplish red through reddish purple
habit =
system = cubic
twinning =
cleavage = none, may show indistinct parting
fracture = conchoidal
mohs = 7 - 7.5
luster = greasy to vitreous
polish = vitreous
refractive = 1.760 (+.010, -.020)
opticalprop = Single refractive, often anomalous double refractive
birefringence = none
dispersion = .026
pleochroism = none
fluorescence= inert
absorption = usually at 504, 520, and 573nm, may also have faint lines at 423, 460, 610 and 680-690nm
streak =
gravity = 3.84 (+/- .10)
density =
melt =
fusibility =
diagnostic =
solubility =
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references = [(Gia), Gemological. Gem Reference Guide. City: Gemological Institute of America (GIA), 1988. ISBN 0-87311-019-6]

Rhodolite is a varietal name for rose-pink to red mineral pyrope, a species in the garnet group. It is found in Cowee Valley, Macon County, North Carolina. [http://www.mindat.org/min-6719.html mindat.org: Rhodolite] The name is derived from the Greek for "rose-like", in common with many pink mineral types ("e.g." rhodochrosite, rhodonite), but "rhodolite" itself is not officially recognised as a mineralogical term. This colouration, and the commonly inclusion-free nature of garnet from this locality, has led to rhodolite being used as a semi-precious gemstone. Chemically, rhodolite is an iron-magnesium-aluminium silicate, part of the pyrope-almandine solid-solution series, with an approximate garnet composition of "Py₇₀Al₃₀".

References