Pyrope is a garnet species made of magnesium, aluminum and silicon. It is usually pink to orange-red or brown.
Properties
| Refractive index | 1.73 to 1.766 |
|---|---|
| Birefringence | None (singly refractive) |
| Optic character | Singly refractive |
| Dispersion | 0.022 |
| Specific gravity | 3.65 to 3.87 |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 7 to 7.5 |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Pleochroism | None |
| Absorption spectrum | Almandine (iron) band, often visible in pyrope, 576 nm (Fe); almandine (iron) band, often visible in pyrope, 526 nm (Fe); almandine (iron) band, often visible in pyrope, 505 nm (Fe); narrow weak doublet where Cr masks the almandine spectrum, 685 to 687 nm (Cr); possible weak line, 671 nm (Cr); possible weak line, 650 nm (Cr); broad band about 100 nm wide, may be visible, 570 nm |
Published values. They change a little from stone to stone. Our tools do not model pyrope yet. Sources: International Gem Society · Gemdat
In more detail
Pyrope and almandine range in color from purple to orangy red. Red garnets like pyrope typically have no eye-visible inclusions. Like many garnets, a pyrope can be a chemical mixture with another garnet species.
Related terms
- Garnet: Garnet is a group of closely related mineral species. They share the same crystal structure but differ in chemical composition.
- Almandine: Almandine is a garnet species made of iron, aluminum and silicon. It is typically brownish to purplish red.
- Spessartine: Spessartine is an orange garnet species made of manganese, aluminum and silicon. Its hues are warm: yellow, orange, red or brown.
- Gem species: A gem species is a mineral with one chemical composition and one crystal structure, such as corundum, beryl or quartz.