Almandine garnet is usually dark red and can look black though pinkish red specimens are also found. Mostly almandine is opaque or semi translucent but the rare transparent stones have a high luster. Many almandine show characteristic inclusions in it. A 4-rayed star can be seen when the stones are cut as cabochons. Main deposits of almandine is found in India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the former Czechoslovakia, Brazil and Austria.

Crystal Structure: Cubic

Hardness: 7.5

Specific Gravity: 4.00

Refractive Index: 1.76-1.83

Colors: Dark red to black and pinkish red.

Luster: Vitreous