Almandine is the most common species of the garnet group, typically found in high-grade metamorphic rocks. Collectors prize its sharp, complex crystal forms, which often appear as deep red, translucent dodecahedrons embedded in mica schist.
Is this almandine?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch almandine with a known reference. Almandine sits at Mohs 7-7.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Almandine leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Almandine typically shows a vitreous to subresinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red, reddish-brown, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: isometric. Typical habit: dodecahedral or trapezohedral crystals, often with rounded edges.
Often confused with
Almandine vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to subresinous on Almandine and vitreous on Pyrope.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to subresinous on Almandine and vitreous on Spessartine.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to subresinous on Almandine and vitreous on Andradite.
Often found alongside almandine
Minerals reported to co-occur with almandine. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 7-7.5
- Density
- 4.31 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to Subresinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Isometric
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral or Trapezohedral Crystals, Often with Rounded Edges
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Gemstone, Abrasive, Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Schists and Gneisses
- Typical price
- $5-50 thumbnail, $50-500 cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find almandine
7 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- India
- Sri Lanka
- USA (Idaho)
- Austria
- Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic schists and gneisses country — that is the host setting where almandine typically forms. If you start seeing staurolite, kyanite, sillimanite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedral or trapezohedral crystals, often with rounded edges habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New York, Wisconsin, Alabama — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify almandine?+
Where is almandine found?+
Can I find almandine in the United States?+
How much is almandine worth?+
What rocks look like almandine?+
What minerals are found with almandine?+
What kind of rock does almandine form in?+
What is almandine used for?+
Find almandine on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
