RocksdayAlmandine vs Pyrope
To tell Almandine from Pyrope: Pyrope is a brighter blood red and lighter (it's the magnesium garnet).
The common iron garnet: dark red to purplish, and heavy. It is the garnet in most mica schists.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
Blood-red magnesium garnet formed deep in the mantle and carried up by volcanic eruptions.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
Key differences
- Pyrope is a brighter blood red and lighter (it's the magnesium garnet).
- Almandine is darker, more purplish and heavier.
Side by side
| Property | Almandine | Pyrope |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 7–7.5 | 7–7.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Red, Purple, Brown | Red |
| Crystal system | Cubic | Cubic |
| Specific gravity | 4–4.3 | 3.58–3.65 |
| Formula | Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ | Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ |
| Found in | Gore Mountain, New York; Tyrol, Austria | Bohemia, Czech Republic; Garnet Ridge, Arizona |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify almandine
- Dark red or purplish rounded crystals, often in schist.
- Hardness 7–7.5.
- Noticeably heavy for its size.
Crystal system: Cubic
Full Almandine guide →How to identify pyrope
- Fiery blood red, often as small rounded grains.
- Hardness 7–7.5.
- Commonly loose grains in volcanic or kimberlite ground.
Crystal system: Cubic
Full Pyrope guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between almandine and pyrope?
Almandine is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5 and a vitreous luster, usually red, purple or brown. Pyrope is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5 and a vitreous luster, usually red.
How can you tell almandine from pyrope?
Pyrope is a brighter blood red and lighter (it's the magnesium garnet). Almandine is darker, more purplish and heavier.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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