January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:27 pm

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2021 3:08 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 4:20 am
Posts: 128
Don't know much about Garnets, but I was told that this particular variety called Rhodolite is one of the most beautiful one's of all garnets. An acquaintance shared a video of one that he recently bought, 4.5 carat. Looks beautiful.



Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2021 3:40 pm 
Offline
Gold Member

Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am
Posts: 1542
Very pretty, and a nice example of Rhodolite.

Garnets a family of related stones defined by subtle differences in trace elements. They are usually found as a solid solution mixture of various garnets. This the case case with Rhodolite. It is a mixture of Pyrope and Amantadine garnet that has a strong purple red color. Without the purple this mixture goes by various other names.


The combination of lack of inclusions, and high refractive index makes these stones very attractive. Garnets of various types are one of my top gemstone favorites.

Thanks for posting.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2021 4:21 pm 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm
Posts: 1424
Location: San Marcos, CA
Agree, probably my favorite of all gem families. Rhodolites in my top three of the garnets. Color changing being #1, Tsavorites #2.

_________________
The Gem Garden
San Marcos, CA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2021 4:29 pm 
Offline
Established Member

Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:20 am
Posts: 36
And sometimes the color of the stone looks like raspberry.


Attachments:
File comment: Two rhodolite from my last visit to Tanzania. 8.4 and 12.6 ct.
PhotoCollage_1620591452981_copy_1245x1245.jpg
PhotoCollage_1620591452981_copy_1245x1245.jpg [ 245.98 KiB | Viewed 1170 times ]
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 4:34 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 4:20 am
Posts: 128
Its interesting that glhays mentioned tsavorite garnet. Isn't that the dark green variety in garnets? Actually the person who shared the Rhodolite garnet video also had this dark green (not too dark, but dark enough to not be light green), vivid garnet. That was also a beautiful piece. He told me that tsavorite's are also not common, and good pieces are sought after. If I get the video of that, will share it here.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 5:58 am 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:03 am
Posts: 921
Location: Paris
Thank you Mohmand ,for sharing this beautiful rhodolite garnet!
I also like the garnets family: Pyrope l (like Arizona Ant Hill Garnet), Almandine, Spessartite, Hessonite, Malaya, Andradite, grossular ... Garnets are so varied, a great mix of elements.
They have been the hosts of much of the world's jewelry

_________________
danielle

"I always believed in being myself"- Thelonious Monk


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 12:22 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Mohmand, I thought you might like reading through this article:
https://www.gemologyonline.com/Garnet_Q ... actors.pdf


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 1:51 pm 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm
Posts: 1424
Location: San Marcos, CA
Mohmand wrote:
Its interesting that glhays mentioned tsavorite garnet. Isn't that the dark green variety in garnets? Actually the person who shared the Rhodolite garnet video also had this dark green (not too dark, but dark enough to not be light green), vivid garnet. That was also a beautiful piece. He told me that tsavorite's are also not common, and good pieces are sought after. If I get the video of that, will share it here.

Tsavorite is the darker green variety of Grossular Garnet, some the Hessonite colors can be extremely attractive when cut right. I guess I shouldn't say that, as there really isn't a right or wrong way. Yes a well cut Tsavorite, eye clean 3ct.+ Is somewhat rare as they typically are in collections already. Although I believe I read relatively recent that there have been recent finds in East Africa.

_________________
The Gem Garden
San Marcos, CA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Tue May 11, 2021 10:44 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 4:20 am
Posts: 128
Dear Barbara, thanks for sharing the report. Very informative


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:36 am 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:03 am
Posts: 921
Location: Paris
Here is an interesting link about The Garnets Family

https://www.gemdat.org/gem-10272.html
... and

https://www.gia.edu/gia-gem-project-garnet

_________________
danielle

"I always believed in being myself"- Thelonious Monk


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 11:12 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Quote:
Although I believe I read relatively recent that there have been recent finds in East Africa.

As I understand it, there is little incentive to develop efficient mining claims by international investors in Kenya because the government issues relatively short term, non-renewable mining claims, varying from 1-20 years.
Therefore, most all the tsavorite we see on the market today is stockpiled material originally mined over the early years from the original Campbell Bridges, Scorpion Mine.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 11:40 am 
Offline
Gold Member

Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am
Posts: 1542
Barbra Voltaire, FGG wrote:
Quote:
Although I believe I read relatively recent that there have been recent finds in East Africa.

As I understand it, there is little incentive to develop efficient mining claims by international investors in Kenya because the government issues relatively short term, non-renewable mining claims, varying from 1-20 years.
Therefore, most all the tsavorite we see on the market today is stockpiled material originally mined over the early years from the original Campbell Bridges, Scorpion Mine.



Plus they often don't honor even the short term licenses. If you develop and economically viable deposit you are very likely to lose it through corruption.

I think most of the Tsavorite we see rough these days comes from Tanzania.

It is not like we don't know where to look for it in Kenya. There is one deposit I know that is rich in Tsavorite, and another industrial mineral. The Tsavorite cold be produced as a side product so would be very profitable. It would cost a good amount of money to develop this deposit, so who would do that in such a corrupt environment.

Just look at the John Saul Ruby Mine history, and what happened to my good friend Campbell and his family.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 11:48 am 
Offline
Gold Member

Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am
Posts: 1542
glhays wrote:
Mohmand wrote:
Although I believe I read relatively recent that there have been recent finds in East Africa.


I have personally seen samples from Ethiopia. But developing there has it's own challenges. Life and freedom threatening.

Africa......


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 2:48 pm 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm
Posts: 1424
Location: San Marcos, CA
glhays wrote:
Although I believe I read relatively recent that there have been recent finds in East Africa.


And another "although" Believing all of what you read these days comes with its challenges as well. :|

_________________
The Gem Garden
San Marcos, CA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Rhodolite Garnet
PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:33 pm 
Offline
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm
Posts: 4015
Location: North Carolina
Most of the Ethiopian ones I've seen have been kind of off-color, though I'm not 100% sure in which direction. A small subset did have very good color though. These were just the ones I saw offered in small quantities by opal dealers--unfortunately the prices have always been very high, even more than most of the emeralds, though I think I did get a small sample last year.

_________________
Rough and cut classic and exotic synthetic gems:https://store.turtleshoard.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: CurazyJ, Google [Bot] and 18 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock