Andradite
Image: Robert M. Lavinsky (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameAndradite
Chemical FormulaCa3Fe2(SiO4)3
Mohs Hardness6.5
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity3.85
Colorsdark reddish-brown, black
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityMullah Yusef, Swat District (Swat Valley), Malakand Region, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, abrasive, collector
Associated Mineralsquartz
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen showcases several dark reddish-brown to black Andradite garnet crystals, exhibiting well-formed dodecahedral habits, embedded within a lighter matrix and associated with translucent white mineral crystals.
Geological Context
Andradite typically forms in contact metamorphic rocks, such as skarns, calc-silicate rocks, and serpentinites, often in iron-rich environments.
