Rhodolite Vs. Sapphire

Rhodolite is a gemstone (garnet) composed of magnesium iron aluminum silicate.^[1] Sapphire is a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is silicon dioxide.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Rhodolite and Sapphire

For a quick recap of the differences rhodolite and sapphire:

• While both rhodolite and sapphire can be translucent or transparent, sapphire can be opaque.
• For chemical formulas, rhodolite can be (Mg or Fe)3Al2Si3O12 while sapphire is Al2O3.
• While both rhodolite and sapphire is vitreous, in terms of luster, sapphire can be adamantine.
• Rhodolite streaks white while sapphire streaks colorless.
• Rhodolite can be commonly purple while sapphire can be commonly blue or green.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Rhodolite and Sapphire

The similarities of rhodolite and sapphire include:

• Rhodolite's rarity is similar to sapphire.

Summary of Rhodolite

Rhodolite is a mineral that belongs to the garnet family. It is a type of garnet that is a mixture of two other types of garnets - pyrope and almandine. Rhodolite is a pink to purple-red variety of garnet, and its name is derived from the Greek words "rhodon" meaning "rose" and "lithos" meaning "stone". It is a popular gemstone due to its unique color and high clarity.

Summary of Sapphire

Sapphire is a precious mineral that belongs to the corundum family. It is a variety of aluminum oxide that is distinguished by its blue color, although it can also be found in other colors such as pink, yellow, green, and purple. Sapphire is one of the hardest minerals in the world, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making it an ideal material for use in jewelry and industrial applications.

Table Comparison of Rhodolite vs Sapphire