Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Ibeandro, Madagascar
SIZE : 16 x 14 x 5 mm; 16 x 12 x 6 mm and 14 x 11 x 6 mm

Theses are 3 sized almandine gemmeous garnets. The samples used for this garnets come from Ibeandro in Madagascar. The gems are dark red and have an oval shape (gem on the left), a rectangular shape (gem on the right) and a cabochon shape (gem on the centre).

They measure: 16 x 14 x 5 mm for the oval shape one; 14 x 11 x 6 mm for the rectangular shape one; 16 x 12 x 6 mm for the cabochon shape one.

This 3 garnets were acquired by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle thanks to M. Marabuit donation in 1912. These gems are kept today in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Almandine

HISTORY : Name derives from the ancient merchant city of Alabanda in Minor Asia,considered as one of the largest stone carving centers of the Antiquity

Species described by Caius Plinius Secundus better known as Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – August 24, AD 79), an ancient author, naturalist and naval and military commander

Type-locality: Alabanda, province de Aydin, Turkey
ANCIENT NAME : Grenat syrien, grenat de Syrie

CHEMICAL FORMULA : (Fe 2+) 3 Al 2 (SiO 4) 3
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Deep red to red-violet, black
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous to resineous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Dodecahedra crystals well formed
HARDNESS : 7,0-7,5
DENSITY : 4,313

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Grenat
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/A.08-20
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.AD.25

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Almandine

Almandine

MNHN N°112.750

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