Hessonite
A variety of Grossular
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About Hessonite
Gooseberries
Formula:
Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Colour:
brownish red to brownish yellow, and aurora red
Specific Gravity:
3.62 - 3.67
Name:
From the Greek "hesson," for "inferior," in allusion to its lower hardness and density than most other garnet varieties.
The original grossular was named "cinnamon stone" ("Kanelstein" in German) in 1803 by Abraham Gottlob Werner and renamed grossularite by Werner in 1808. Named for the colour of gooseberries (Ribes grossularium) as the original specimens were this colour.
The original grossular was named "cinnamon stone" ("Kanelstein" in German) in 1803 by Abraham Gottlob Werner and renamed grossularite by Werner in 1808. Named for the colour of gooseberries (Ribes grossularium) as the original specimens were this colour.
A gemmy, more or less orange (due to small iron content in the form of Fe3+) variety of Grossular garnet.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hessonite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hessonite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1882 (as Hessonite)
1755 (as Grossular)
1755 (as Grossular)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1882:7 (as Hessonite)
mindat:1:1:1755:4 (as Grossular)
mindat:1:1:1755:4 (as Grossular)
Physical Properties of Hessonite
Colour:
Brownish red to brownish yellow, and aurora red
Comment:
The internal features of hessonite are highly pronounced and characteristic of this gemstone. The heat-wave effect, also known as a roiled interior appearance (or terms like “oily” appearance, treacle, molasses, and so on), is a distinctive and common feature associated with hessonite, although very few hessonites lack this effect, such as those from Somalia and Afghanistan. While liquid inclusions and crystals are common in hessonite, they are not exclusive to this gemstone. Another characteristic inclusion in hessonite is the granular texture. Gem-quality hessonite is typically mined from secondary deposits, with primary ore deposits located in the high-grade metamorphic khondalite suites or the quartzite–amphibolite contact zones.
Hessonite has been well-known for its heat-wave effect for a long time. A strong, roiled appearance will influence its transparency.
Hessonite is polycrystalline rather than single-crystalline, composed of submillimeter-sized granules with random orientation and minor chemical composition variations. Abundant micropores exist among the granules. These structural features interrupt incident light as it traverses the hessonite. It will cause changes in both the direction and the speed of the incident light. Such alterations induce light to swirl and roil within the gemstone, ultimately giving rise to the heat-wave effect. [[1]]
Density:
3.62 - 3.67 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Hessonite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.74 - 1.768
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
High
Chemistry of Hessonite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Synonyms of Hessonite
Other Language Names for Hessonite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 378 photos of Hessonite associated with Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 316 photos of Hessonite associated with Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| 109 photos of Hessonite associated with Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| 28 photos of Hessonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 26 photos of Hessonite associated with Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 24 photos of Hessonite associated with Chlorite Group | |
| 20 photos of Hessonite associated with Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| 20 photos of Hessonite associated with Anorthite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| 20 photos of Hessonite associated with Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 13 photos of Hessonite associated with Clinozoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Fluorescence of Hessonite
inert to LW and SW
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Hessonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1882.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Hessonite
Localities for Hessonite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Afghanistan | |
| Jose Zendrera Collection | |
Australia | |
| Personal collecting |
| Updated list originally distributed by ... |
| part of list University of Queensland |
| Noble et al. (1983) |
Austria | |
| www.mindat.org (n.d.) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Exel (1993) |
| Exel (1993) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Walter et al. (2004) | |
| Peter Lamatsch collection |
| Kiesewetter (2002) |
| Erwin Löffler and other collections +1 other reference |
| Neschen (n.d.) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Strasser (1989) | |
| Exel (1993) |
| Gerd Stefanik collection | |
| Neschen (n.d.) |
| Exel (1993) |
| Cathrein (1887) +1 other reference |
| Meixner (1976) +1 other reference |
| Franz Pröll | |
Brazil | |
| Sauer (1982) |
Canada | |
| Schroetter |
| Maggie Wilson |
| Sabina (1986) +1 other reference |
| Gault et al. (1994) |
| Mason (1976) |
| Akizuki (1989) +1 other reference | |
| www.alpinegems.net | |
China | |
| Qin et al. (2022) |
| Xu Jiuhua et al. (2008) |
| Xu Jiuhua et al. (2008) |
| Li et al. (2011) |
Czech Republic | |
| Lapis 2000 (4) |
| Kruťa +1 other reference |
| Sejkora (1994) |
| Kruťa (Frýdberka) | |
| S.Šimko |
| Ales Tomek photo |
| Zikeš et al. (2011) |
| Pauliš |
Germany | |
| Hanneberg et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| F. Müller: "Bayerns steinreiche Ecke" (1984) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weber (2013) |
| Mason (1976) |
| Nickel et al. (1985) |
| Nickel et al. (1985) |
| Thomas Lühr Collection |
| Frenzel (1874) |
| Lapis 30 (7/8) |
Greece | |
| Chrysovalantis Efstathiou |
Italy | |
| Gramaccioli (1975) |
| Gramaccioli (1975) | |
| Biffi et al. (1985) +2 other references |
| |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) | |
| Del Caldo et al. (1973) | |
| C.M. Gramaccioli (1975) |
| Del Caldo et al. (1973) |
| Cotta Ramusino et al. (1973) +2 other references | |
| Pandullo (1975) +1 other reference | |
| Pandullo (1975) | |
| C.M. Gramaccioli (1975) | |
| C.M. Gramaccioli (1975) |
| C.M. Gramaccioli (1975) | |
| Rob Lavinsky (ex. Richard Kosnar specimen) |
| Alessandro Cantamessa collection | |
| Dario Di Domenico photo |
| Franco Lazzari photo & specimen Photo ... | |
| Repossi (1918) +1 other reference |
| Antofilli et al. (1985) |
| Giovanni Scapin Collection |
| King (n.d.) |
| Alessandro Tagliaferi | |
| Maida (2002) |
| Piccoli (2002) |
| Maletto G. et al. (1976) |
| Matteo Chinellato | |
| Maletto et al. (2014) | |
| Maletto et al. (1976) +2 other references | |
| Maletto et al. (2014) | |
| Barresi (1996) +1 other reference |
| Maletto et al. (1976) +2 other references |
| Simone Citon photo | |
| Maletto et al. (2014) | |
| Gramaccioli (1975) | |
| Gramaccioli (1975) | |
| Yves Masson | |
| Paolo Pastore |
| Novarese G.-I minerali delle rodingiti ... |
| Diella +8 other references |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Repossi et al. (1926) +2 other references |
| Dal Piaz (1967) +1 other reference |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) | |
| Martins da Pedra |
| Barresi (1996) +1 other reference |
| Alpinisti M. (1981) +1 other reference |
| Girolami (2006) | |
| Marco Macchieraldo |
| Girolami (2006) |
| Stara (1990) |
| Conti-Vecchi et al. (1991) |
| Conti - Vecchi et al. (1991) | |
| |
Kenya | |
| Lavinsky (n.d.) | |
Madagascar | |
| Lacroix (1956) |
Myanmar | |
| Praszkier et al. (2012) |
| Kyaw Khaing Win (2004) |
New Zealand | |
| Service (1937) |
Norway | |
| Garmo (2003) |
| Alessandro Cantamessa specimen |
Pakistan | |
| TVM Specimen +1 other reference |
Peru | |
| Dr. Jaroslav Hyrsl specimens |
Poland | |
| Websky M. (1853) +1 other reference |
| Borkowska (1961) |
| Natural History Museum Vienna collection (on vesuvianite specimen catalogued in 1932) | |
| Eligiusz Szełęg private collection |
| collection Eligiusz Szełęg | |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
Portugal | |
| |
Russia | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Mishainik |
Slovakia | |
| Ďuďa R. et al. (1993) |
Spain | |
| Alejandro Sánchez Jiménez |
| Joaquim Mollfulleda |
Sri Lanka | |
| Ceylon Aluvial Mine (Book, Co. 2002) |
| Mathavan et al. (2000) |
| Mathavan et al. (2000) | |
Switzerland | |
| Monistier (2009) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Trommsdorf (1968) +2 other references |
| Stalder et al. (1978) |
| Bracke (n.d.) |
| |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
| Parker et al. (1973) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Parker et al. (1973) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
Taiwan | |
| |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Ransom (1974) |
| Blake (1855) +2 other references |
| Kunz (1904) +1 other reference |
| Webb (1943) |
| Merrill (1916) +2 other references |
| Hilton (1939) |
| Kunz (1905) +1 other reference |
| Snyder (1962) +1 other reference | |
| Carnahan |
| Kunz (1905) +1 other reference | |
| CALIF. DIV. MINES AND GEOL. COUNTY ... |
| Kunz (1905) +1 other reference |
| 150. +1 other reference | |
| Kunz (1897) +1 other reference |
| Pearl (1958) |
| Murphy et al. (1966) |
| Ray Woodman specimen |
| Guidebook 1 to Mineral Collecting in ... | |
| |
| Gleba (2008) |
| Gleba (2008) |
| Gleba (2008) |
| Emerson (1917) |
| Emerson (1917) |
| Kunz (1890) |
| Cristofono (n.d.) |
| Manchester (1931) | |
| Ransom (1974) |
| Kunz (1890) |
| Rocks & Minerals (1986) |
| King (n.d.) |
| Dorothy M. Schlegal (1957) |
Vietnam | |
| Jadwiga PIECZONKA et al. (2019) |
Faiallo Pass, Urbe, Savona Province, Liguria, Italy