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 — that is 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.
Common questions
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Find almandite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
