Almandine Garnet is from the Garnet group, as well as Grossular Garnet, that's usually opaque, although the transparent or translucent forms also make beautiful gemstones.

Why is almandine garnet red?

Almandine Garnet Color

The unique deep red color of almandine is a direct result from the presence of iron. Almandine garnet with pure, deep red colors are the most desirable and valuable of almandine stones.

Is almandine a rare mineral?

THE MINERAL ALMANDINE. Almandine is the most common of the garnets and is usually the garnet found in garnet schists (a type of metamorphic rock composed mostly of mica). ... Pure almandine and pure pyrope are rare in nature and most specimens are a percentage of the two.