How do I identify Schorlomite?

Schorlomite can be identified by its hardness of 7 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale, Black color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Schorlomite?

Schorlomite typically appears in Black, brown-black. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Schorlomite?

Schorlomite has a hardness of 7 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a relatively hard mineral suitable for jewelry.

Schorlomite

A variety of Minerals

What is Schorlomite?

Garnets ( /ˈɡɑːrnɪt/) are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. All species of garnets possess similar physical properties and crystal forms, but differ in chemical composition. The different species are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular (varieties of which are hessonite or cinnamon-stone and tsavorite), uvarovite and andradite. The garnets make up two solid solution series: pyrope-almandine-spessartine (pyralspite) and uvarovite-grossular-andradite (ugrandite).

Etymology & Origins

The word garnet comes from the 14th‑century Middle English word gernet, meaning 'dark red'. It is borrowed from Old French grenate from Latin granatus, from granum ('grain, seed'). This is possibly a reference to mela granatum or even pomum granatum ('pomegranate', Punica granatum), a plant whose fruits contain abundant and vivid red seed covers (arils), which are similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals. Hessonite garnet is also named 'gomed' in Indian literature and is one of the 9 jewels in Vedic astrology that compose the Navaratna.

Optical Properties

Refractive Index: 1.94-1.98
Optical Character: Isotropic

Schorlomite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Schorlomite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Schorlomite Localities Map

See where Schorlomite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

Map preview

North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Schorlomite

Garnet species are found in every colour, with reddish shades most common. Blue garnets are the rarest and were first reported in the 1990s. Garnet species' light transmission properties can range from the gemstone-quality transparent specimens to the opaque varieties used for industrial purposes as abrasives. The mineral's luster is categorized as vitreous (glass-like) or resinous (amber-like).

Composition of Schorlomite

Garnets are nesosilicates having the general formula X3Y2(SiO4)3. The X site is usually occupied by divalent cations (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn) and the Y site by trivalent cations (Al, Fe, Cr) in an octahedral/tetrahedral framework with [SiO4] occupying the tetrahedra. Garnets are most often found in the dodecahedral crystal habit, but are also commonly found in the trapezohedron habit as well as the hexoctahedral habit. They crystallize in the cubic system, having three axes that are all of equal length and perpendicular to each other, but are never actually cubic because, despite being isometric, the {100} and {111} families of planes are depleted. Garnets do not have any cleavage planes, so when they fracture under stress, sharp, irregular (conchoidal) pieces are formed.