Almandite is the most common iron-rich member of the garnet group, often recognized by its characteristic deep red to brownish-red color. Collectors typically look for well-formed dodecahedral crystals embedded in mica schist matrices. It is widely distributed globally in regionally metamorphosed rocks.
Is this almandite?
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 almandite with a known reference. Almandite 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. Almandite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Almandite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red, brownish red, violet red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: dodecahedron, trapezohedron.
Often confused with
Almandite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside almandite
Minerals reported to co-occur with almandite. 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
- 4.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedron, Trapezohedron
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary, Abrasive
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Rocks Like Schist and Gneiss
- Typical price
- $5-50 for small specimens, higher for large gemmy crystals
Where rockhounds find almandite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Sri Lanka
- India
- Brazil
- USA
- Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic rocks like schist and gneiss country, the host setting where almandite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, mica, staurolite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedron, trapezohedron habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Wisconsin. Start trip planning there.
More almandite photos
Common questions
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Find almandite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
