APPLICATIONS: | Gem stones and abrasives. |
ASSOCIATED MINERALS: | Micas, chlorite, diopside, melanite, demantoid, topazolite and serpentine. |
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: | Aries. |
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE: | Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3, Calcium Iron Silicate. |
CLASS: | Silicates. |
CLEAVAGE: | Absent. |
COLOR: | Mostly greenish gray to green but also black, yellow and rarely colorless. |
CRYSTAL HABITS: | Include the typical rhombic dodecahedron. Also seen is the 24 sided trapezohedron. Combinations of these forms are common and sometimes the rare faces of the hexoctahedron, a 48 sided crystal habit that rarely is seen by itself, can also combine with these other forms making very attractive, complex and multifaceted crystals. Massive occurrences are also common. Commonly forms crust that shows many rhombic faces. |
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: | Isometric, 4/m bar 3 2/m. |
FIELD INDICATORS: | Crystal habit, color, index of refraction and hardness. |
FRACTURE: | Conchoidal. |
GENERAL INFORMATION: | Index of refraction is 1.89. |
GEOGRAPHY: | Arizona; ural mountains in Russia; Italy and California. |
GROUP: | Garnets. |
HARDNESS: | 6.5 - 7.5. |
LUSTER: | Vitreous. |
METAPHYSICAL: | This mineral stabilizes and enhances male qualities (strength, stamina, courage, etc.). It is used to for magnetic alignment of the bodies fields. It is used in relationships, to bring into ones life what is essential and not what is desired. Rainbow Andradite is used for aura cleansing and it dispels isolation, dis-connectedness and unwanted fears. It also has been used to activate mysticism. |
TRANSPARENCY: | Transparent to translucent. |
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: | 3.8+. |
STREAK: | White. |
SUBCLASS: | Nesosilicates. |
VIBRATES: | To the number 4. |
