Hessonite
| Also known as | Garnet (Garnet family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Orange, Brown |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5 to 7 |
| Lustre | greasy to vitreous |
| Streak | Brown |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Transparency | Can form with any diaphaneity, translucent is common |
| Cleavage | none |
| Fracture | conchoidal to uneven |
| Chemical formula | Ca 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 |
| Specific gravity | 3.61 (+.15/−.04) |
What is Hessonite?
Grossular is a calcium-aluminium species of the garnet group of minerals. It has the chemical formula of Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 but the calcium may, in part, be replaced by ferrous iron and the aluminium by ferric iron. The name grossular is derived from the botanical name for the gooseberry, grossularia, in reference to the green garnet of this composition that is found in Siberia. Other shades include cinnamon brown (cinnamon stone variety), red, and yellow. Grossular is a gemstone.
How to identify Hessonite
- Lustre: greasy to vitreous.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5 to 7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: Brown.
- Habit: Cubic crystal system.
Hessonite in different forms
Stones often confused with Hessonite
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Hessonite?
Hessonite is Mohs 6.5 to 7 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Hessonite?
Hessonite is typically orange, brown (light to dark green, light to dark yellow to reddish brown, brown, orange, red, yellow, green, white, occasionally trans).