Almandine is a species of mineral belonging to the garnet group. The garnet group is a small group of closely related mineral. To give you the idea that the members of the garnet group are isomorphous, and some of them freely interact.
Almandine is incorrectly known as almandite sometimes. They differ from only to some extent in physical properties, and some of them may be so similar that they are impossible to impossible to differentiate from one another without x-ray analysis. The most universal members are: Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartine, Grossular, andradite, and Uvarovite.
Almandine is commonly viewed through the spectroscope in a strong light. It generally shows three characteristic absorption bands. In addition, it is an iron alumina garnet, deep red in color close to purple. It is frequently cut with a convex face known as carbuncle.
Almandine is very essential in making garnet paper in some industrial companies. Most of garnet paper is made from almandine, and only small amount is made from Pyrope. Almandine also makes a fine gemstone when transparent and colored agreeably when transparent. Well-formed Almandine crystals are very famous among mineral collectors.
Almandine is the most common garnet. It is widely used in the gem trade. Although only a small amount of this mineral is suitable for gem use. More gems are faceted from almandine than nay other kind of garnet. In fact, some almandine garnets display asterism when polished as cabochons. Another, almandine commonly occurs embedded in mica schists. It also occurs in large and single crystals, which are caused from the breakup of the mica schist due to weathering.
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