Knorringite is a rare chromium-rich garnet found primarily as inclusions in diamonds or as indicator minerals in kimberlite pipes. It is highly valued by geologists for its role as a geobarometer for the upper mantle, though it is seldom found in well-formed crystals large enough for traditional lapidary.
Is this knorringite?
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 knorringite with a known reference. Knorringite 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. Knorringite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Knorringite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green, emerald green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: equant, dodecahedral, trapezohedral.
Often confused with
Knorringite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside knorringite
Minerals reported to co-occur with knorringite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 7-7.5
- Density
- 3.85 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Equant, Dodecahedral, Trapezohedral
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Kimberlite Pipes
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find knorringite
Classic worldwide localities
- Republic of Yakutia, Russia
- Kimberley region, South Africa
- Wyoming, USA
- Colorado, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in kimberlite pipes country — that is the host setting where knorringite typically forms. If you start seeing pyrope, diamond, ilmenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant, dodecahedral, trapezohedral habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find knorringite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
