Andradite is a calcium-iron garnet known for its brilliant luster and wide range of colors. Collectors frequently search for the emerald-green 'Demantoid' variety or the black 'Melanite' variety, which are prized for their sharp, well-formed crystal habits.
Is this andradite garnet?
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 andradite garnet with a known reference. Andradite Garnet sits at Mohs 6.5-7.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Andradite Garnet leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Andradite Garnet typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, green, yellow, black, red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: isometric. Typical habit: dodecahedral or trapezohedral crystals, often with striated faces.
Often confused with
Andradite Garnet vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside andradite garnet
Minerals reported to co-occur with andradite garnet. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃Fe₂Si₃O₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7.5
- Density
- 3.8-3.9 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Isometric
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral or Trapezohedral Crystals, Often with Striated Faces
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Gemstone, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Skarns, Contact Metamorphosed Limestones, And Serpentinites
- Typical price
- $10-100 for cabinet specimens; high-quality green 'Demantoid' varieties can reach thousands
Where rockhounds find andradite garnet
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Italy
- Russia
- USA
- Mexico
- Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in skarns, contact metamorphosed limestones, and serpentinites country — that is the host setting where andradite garnet typically forms. If you start seeing diopside, vesuvianite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedral or trapezohedral crystals, often with striated faces habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Pennsylvania — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify andradite garnet?+
Where is andradite garnet found?+
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How much is andradite garnet worth?+
What rocks look like andradite garnet?+
What minerals are found with andradite garnet?+
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Find andradite garnet on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
