Spessartine Mining In Bavaria: A Booming Industry?

Spessartine is a manganese aluminium garnet species, Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3, that was first discovered in the Spessart Mountains of Germany. The mineral is sometimes mistakenly referred to as spessartite. Spessartine's name is derived from Spessart in Bavaria, Germany, the type locality of the mineral. Spessartine is found in granite pegmatite and allied rock types and in certain low-grade metamorphic phyllites. Sources of spessartine include Australia, Myanmar, India, Afghanistan, Israel, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Tanzania and the United States.

Spessartine is a rare gemstone that has become a major gem material in the global market. It is often found in its pure form, with a bright orange to red colour, and is used in jewellery. Spessartine is very rarely encountered in antique jewellery since the main deposits have been discovered only recently.

Spessartine's discovery and naming

Spessartine, also known as spessartite, is a rare form of garnet. The name spessartine comes from the Spessart district of Bavaria, Germany, where the mineral was first discovered. In 1797, Martin Klaproth named the mineral "granatförmiges Braunsteinerz", and in 1823, Henry Seybert distinguished it as a "manganesian" garnet using a specimen from Haddam, Connecticut, USA. In 1832, François Sulpice Beudant renamed the mineral spessartine, after its type locality in the Spessart Mountains, Germany.

Spessartine is a manganese aluminium garnet species, Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3, and is sometimes mistakenly referred to as spessartite. It occurs most often in granite pegmatite and allied rock types and in certain low-grade metamorphic phyllites. Sources of spessartine include Australia, Myanmar, India, Afghanistan, Israel, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Tanzania, and the United States.

Spessartine can range in colour from orange to dark red, reddish-brown, orange-pink, orange-red, brownish-yellow, and sometimes almost black, depending on its chemical composition. The bright orange variety, also known as Mandarin garnet, is the most highly prized. These orange stones are pure, while other coloured stones have iron content, which changes the orange to a darker colour. Stones larger than ten carats are very rare.

Spessartine's colour and composition

Spessartine is a manganese aluminium garnet species with the chemical composition Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3. It is sometimes referred to as spessartite, although this is incorrect. Spessartine is named after the Spessart Mountains in Bavaria, Germany, where it was first discovered.

Spessartine occurs in a variety of colours, including red, reddish orange, yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, and brown. The colour of spessartine is influenced by the presence of other garnet species, particularly almandine. Spessartine with a high almandine content will appear red or brownish, while pure spessartine tends towards a light orange hue.

Spessartine's colour can also change depending on the lighting conditions, exhibiting what is known as the "alexandrite effect". In daylight, spessartine can appear green, but under incandescent light, it changes to a purplish-red. This colour change is due to the absorption bands of Cr3+ and V3+ ions in the crystal structure.

Spessartine's colour can also vary depending on its geographical origin. For example, spessartine from Madagascar tends to be orange-yellow and is known as Mandarin garnet, while violet-red spessartines are found in Colorado and Maine, USA. Spessartines from Nigeria and Tanzania are also known for their bright orange colour.

Spessartine's sources and trade names

Spessartine, also known as spessartite, is a rare form of garnet. It is named after the Spessart district of Bavaria, Germany, where it was first discovered. Spessartine is a nesosilicate, manganese aluminium garnet species, with the chemical formula Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3. It is sometimes confused with hessonite garnet or yellow topaz, but its feather-like inclusions make it distinguishable.

Spessartine is found in alluvial deposits and granite pegmatites, typically occurring as isolated, well-formed crystals. It ranges in colour from orange to dark red, reddish-brown, orange-pink, orange-red, brownish-yellow, and sometimes almost black. The most prized specimens are bright orange, as these stones are pure, while other colours indicate the presence of iron.

Spessartine is sourced from various locations around the world, including:

• Australia
• Myanmar
• India
• Afghanistan
• Israel
• Madagascar
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• Mozambique
• Tanzania
• United States
• Brazil
• Sri Lanka
• China
• Pakistan
• Italy
• Norway
• Sweden
• Scotland
• Russia
• Japan

Spessartine from many of these locations is not gem-grade, and it is very rarely encountered in antique jewellery, as the main deposits have only been discovered recently.

Spessartine's historical popularity

Spessartine, a rare form of garnet, was first discovered in the Spessart Mountains of Bavaria, Germany, from which it gets its name. Spessartine is a manganese-rich member of the garnet family, typically coloured yellowish to reddish orange.

Spessartine was originally called "granatförmiges Braunsteinerz" by Martin Klaproth in 1797. In 1823, it was distinguished as a "manganesian" garnet by Henry Seybert, using a specimen from Haddam, Connecticut, USA. In 1832, François Sulpice Beudant renamed it spessartine, after its type locality in the Spessart Mountains, Germany.

Another important discovery occurred in Nigeria, near the city of Ibadan, in the late 1990s. Initially a by-product of rubellite mining, this deposit became a major source of bright orange spessartine until around 2001. While the quantity of stones from this locality has decreased since then, dealers still report new parcels being offered for sale.

Spessartine was also mined in the Little Three Mine in California, USA, during the 1970s. However, due to high operating costs, this site is no longer active. Other historical sources of spessartine in the US include the Rutherford Mine in Virginia, Avondale and Jenkintown in Pennsylvania, and Haddam, Connecticut.

In Brazil, the Navegadora Mine near Conselheiro Pena in Minas Gerais briefly yielded deep red spessartines on albite. Madagascar, Africa, is another producer of fine spessartines, with deposits found in several locations.

Spessartine's rarity in antique jewellery is due to the recent discovery of its main deposits. However, its popularity as a gem material has grown, with major discoveries in Namibia and Nigeria bringing it into the spotlight.

Spessartine's current popularity

Spessartine is a rare and relatively new gemstone to the market, with its main deposits having been discovered in the last few decades. Spessartine is a manganese-aluminium garnet species, with the manganese giving it its prized orange colours. It is sometimes called spessartite, although this term is also used to refer to a type of lamprophyre igneous rock.

Spessartine's name comes from the Spessart Mountains in Bavaria, Germany, where it was first discovered. However, it is now sourced from many countries around the world, including Australia, Myanmar, India, Afghanistan, Israel, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Tanzania and the United States, as well as Brazil, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, China, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Spessartine is particularly popular in jewellery due to its brilliant colour and high refractive index, which gives it a soft glow. It is also durable, with a Mohs hardness of 7-7.5. The most expensive spessartines are typically the rich mandarin oranges and deep burnt orange/red gems.

Spessartine is often found blended with other garnet species, such as almandine and pyrope. Mandarin garnets, which have a pure orange hue, are a type of spessartine with a high percentage composition of spessartite (85-95% mol). Malaya garnets are another type of spessartine with variable but high percentages of spessartite (2-94% mol), as well as pyrope (0-83% mol) and almandine (2-78% mol). Their colours range from pink, pinkish orange, yellowish orange, orange, to red.

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