term applied to the iron–aluminum group of garnets, a red to purple gem quality, which occur in mica-schist, and other metamorphic rocks. Usually a hollow cabochon, cut to lighten the color, is known as a carbuncle. Sometimes this is seen as a weakly formed four-rayed or six-rayed star. Such stones are known as star almandine. These four-pointed and six-pointed star almandines occur due to fine needles inclusions. Almandine is practically opaque to X-rays. Sometimes the word almandine is used as a prefix, which is a misnomer, for example, almandine spinel or Cape garnet. Alabandite is an obsolete term. Also calledalmandite,noble garnet,precious garnet,oriental garnet. Also spelledalamandine.Garnet,almandine spinel.