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, 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.
