The
specific gravity of almandine is from 2-571, which, together with its
slight hardness, helps to distinguish it easily from other stones which
resemble it. It is seldom found in large crystals, and it is so opaque,
in consequence of its dark colour, that it is only transparent when
placed between the eye and the light.
Barbot
declares that he has seen a very large specimen, which seemed like an
inferior garnet; and, in fact, it may be well compared with the red
lava of Etna or Vesuvius.
Generally,
the almandine is confounded with one of the rubies which Pliny declares
are found in Alabanda, and therefore named Alabandina. In fact, Boëce
de Boot, copying the Roman naturalist, says that " Alman-dines take a
place between garnets and rubies, so that they appear to be darker
rubies ; but they are more common than these, and have less vivid
light." But such descriptions are not adapted to the kind of quartz now
under consideration ; which is not only inferior to the garnet, but is
placed lowest amongst the coloured clear quartzes, and has no
commercial value.
VI.
AMAZZONITE.
This stone,
easily mistaken for green jade, on account of its colour, is
nevertheless quite different, as it belongs to the felspars, of which
it possesses all the properties.
