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Spessartine is a rare, semiprecious gemstone that's a member of the garnet family and is typically orange in color:

Color

Spessartine can range in color from yellow to orange to red, and sometimes appears brownish. The most valuable colors are rich oranges and vibrant reddish-oranges. The bright orange variety of spessartine is known by the trade name mandarin garnet.

Composition

Spessartine is a manganese aluminum garnet that often contains other elements, such as iron, in small amounts. The amount of iron or almandine garnet present in the stone determines its color. For example, gems with a reddish to red-brown hue have a higher almandine content and a higher refractive index.

Origin

Spessartine was discovered in the Spessart Mountains in Germany in the mid-19th century, and the name comes from the location. Today, the top sources of spessartine are Nigeria, Tanzania, and Namibia.

Uses

Spessartine is rarely used in jewelry because it's so rare.

Crystallography

Spessartine crystals can be euhedral, dodecahedra, or trapezohedra, and can grow up to 10 cm in size.