Rhodolite is a varietal name for rose-pink to red mineral pyrope, a species in the garnet group. It was first described from Cowee Valley, Macon County, North Carolina.[2] The name is derived from the Greek "rhodon" for "rose-like", in common with other pink mineral types (such as rhodochrosite, rhodonite). This coloration, and the commonly inclusion-free nature of garnet from this locality, has led to rhodolite being used as a gemstone. Rhodolite like other varietal names is not officially recognized as a mineralogical term, but rather used as an accepted trade name.[3][4]
Mineralogically and chemically, rhodolite garnets are members of the pyrope–almandinesolid-solution series, with an approximate bulk garnet composition of Py70Al30.[1]
Rhodolites from different occurrences around the world have been characterized by crystal chemical and absorption spectral analysis showing that besides iron such elements as manganese, chromium and vanadium may effect the colour of rhodolites.[3][4]
Rhodolite garnets appear as transparent red-pink-purplish gemstones, including all the different colour shades between violet and red. The colors from different rhodolite sources may vary from a lavender pink to raspberry rose or raspberry red and from purplish-violet (grape) to purplish red.[5]
The color of rhodolites, combined with their brilliance, durability, and the accessibility of stones with no visible inclusions have brought about some demand for the stone in the jewelry industry. Rhodolites used in jewelry are generally faceted to make good use of their brilliance, though they also exist in cabochon form.[citation needed]
Some rhodolites will change color from purplish to a hessonite brown when heated to a temperature of 600 °C (1,100 °F). This process cannot be reversed.[6]
^ abcLind, Thomas; Henn, Ulrich; Milisenda, Claudio C. (1998). "Comparative investigation of rhodolite garnets from different provenances". Gemmologie (Journal of the German Gemmological Association). 47 (1): 53–59. ISSN 0948-7395.
^ abcLind, Thomas (2015). "Crystal chemistry and colour of garnets of commercially relevant gemstone occurrences". Gemmologie (Journal of the German Gemmological Association). 64 (1–2): 1–41. ISSN 0948-7395.
^"Rhodolite". Lindgranat | Garnet Specialist | Germany | World Of Garnets. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
^ ab"Rhodolite on Gemdat.org". Retrieved 13 March 2015.
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rhodolite, varietal, name, rose, pink, mineral, pyrope, species, garnet, group, first, described, from, cowee, valley, macon, county, north, carolina, name, derived, from, greek, rhodon, rose, like, common, with, other, pink, mineral, types, such, rhodochrosit. Rhodolite is a varietal name for rose pink to red mineral pyrope a species in the garnet group It was first described from Cowee Valley Macon County North Carolina 2 The name is derived from the Greek rhodon for rose like in common with other pink mineral types such as rhodochrosite rhodonite This coloration and the commonly inclusion free nature of garnet from this locality has led to rhodolite being used as a gemstone Rhodolite like other varietal names is not officially recognized as a mineralogical term but rather used as an accepted trade name 3 4 RhodoliteGeneralCategoryPyrope variety nesosilicateFormula repeating unit Mg Fe 3Al2 SiO4 3Crystal systemCubicIdentificationColorlight to dark purplish red through reddish purpleCleavagenone may show indistinct partingFractureconchoidalMohs scale hardness7 0 7 5Lustergreasy to vitreousSpecific gravity3 84 0 10Polish lustervitreousOptical propertiesSingle refractive often anomalous double refractiveRefractive index1 760 0 010 0 020BirefringencenonePleochroismnoneDispersion0 026Ultraviolet fluorescenceinertAbsorption spectrausually at 504 520 and 573 nm may also have faint lines at 423 460 610 and 680 690 nmReferences 1 Gemmological properties editMineralogically and chemically rhodolite garnets are members of the pyrope almandine solid solution series with an approximate bulk garnet composition of Py70Al30 1 Rhodolites from different occurrences around the world have been characterized by crystal chemical and absorption spectral analysis showing that besides iron such elements as manganese chromium and vanadium may effect the colour of rhodolites 3 4 Rhodolite garnets appear as transparent red pink purplish gemstones including all the different colour shades between violet and red The colors from different rhodolite sources may vary from a lavender pink to raspberry rose or raspberry red and from purplish violet grape to purplish red 5 The color of rhodolites combined with their brilliance durability and the accessibility of stones with no visible inclusions have brought about some demand for the stone in the jewelry industry Rhodolites used in jewelry are generally faceted to make good use of their brilliance though they also exist in cabochon form citation needed Some rhodolites will change color from purplish to a hessonite brown when heated to a temperature of 600 C 1 100 F This process cannot be reversed 6 Natural sources editMany deposits of economic importance are found in countries that belong to the geological unit of the so called Mozambique belt such as Kenya Madagascar Malawi Mozambique Tanzania etc Other sources of rhodolites are in Brazil India Odisha Norway United States and Sri Lanka 2 3 4 6 References edit a b Gem Reference Guide Santa Monica CA Gemological Institute of America 1988 ISBN 0 87311 019 6 a b Rhodolite on mindat org a b c Lind Thomas Henn Ulrich Milisenda Claudio C 1998 Comparative investigation of rhodolite garnets from different provenances Gemmologie Journal of the German Gemmological Association 47 1 53 59 ISSN 0948 7395 a b c Lind Thomas 2015 Crystal chemistry and colour of garnets of commercially relevant gemstone occurrences Gemmologie Journal of the German Gemmological Association 64 1 2 1 41 ISSN 0948 7395 Rhodolite Lindgranat Garnet Specialist Germany World Of Garnets Retrieved 2018 03 18 a b Rhodolite on Gemdat org Retrieved 13 March 2015 nbsp This article about a specific silicate mineral is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rhodolite amp oldid 1177153751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
