Garnet Hill, Ely, Nevada • White Pine County • 7,050 ft

Almandine garnet & the Garnet Hill rhyolite fields

Named after the deep crimson Almandine garnet crystals found embedded in ancient volcanic rock atop Garnet Hill in Ely, White Pine County, Nevada. Explore the geological story and interactive specimen photographs that inspired the name and visual design of Almandine OS.

◆ Almandine Mineralogy & Crystal Geometry

Almandine (Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃) is a deep crimson iron aluminum garnet mineral forged under intense heat and pressure inside the Earth's crust. Valued for its Mohs 7.0 to 7.5 hardness, high refractive index, and sharp 24 facet trapezohedral geometry, the crystal embodies durability and clean symmetry.

Its deep wine red facets and glassy vitreous luster inspired the obsidian, crimson garnet, warm desert gold, and crisp quartz white palette used across Almandine OS.

Mineral Species Almandine Garnet

Crystal Habit 24 Facet Isometric

Mohs Hardness 7.0 to 7.5

Refractive Index n = 1.810 (Vitreous)

▲ Garnet Hill, Ely, Nevada (White Pine County)

Rising to 7,050 feet just northwest of Ely, Nevada, Garnet Hill overlooks Robinson Canyon and the rugged Egan Range in the Great Basin high desert. Millions of years ago, Tertiary volcanic eruptions left behind pale pinkish gray rhyolite lava flows riddled with vapor phase cavities.

Inside those volcanic cavities, dark crimson almandine garnets crystallized directly on quartz and rhyolite walls, weathering naturally onto the mountain slopes today as one of Nevada's classic mineral landmarks.

Landmark Garnet Hill, Ely, NV

Elevation 7,050 ft (2,149 m)

Host Rock Tertiary Volcanic Rhyolite

Region Egan Range • Great Basin

Interactive Almandine & Garnet Hill specimen gallery

✦ Hover across any Almandine crystal to see facet reflections and crimson glow

GARNET HILL, WHITE PINE CO., NV VOLCANIC CAVITY SPECIMEN Dark crimson Almandine garnet crystal inside a quartz cavity in Garnet Hill volcanic rock from Ely, White Pine County, Nevada

Dark crimson Almandine garnet crystal inside a quartz cavity in Garnet Hill volcanic rock from Ely, White Pine County, Nevada

Almandine Garnet in Volcanic Rhyolite (Garnet Hill, Ely, NV)

A sharp, glassy deep crimson almandine crystal nestled inside a natural quartz cavity within pale volcanic stone from Garnet Hill in White Pine County, Nevada.

LOCALITY: GARNET HILL, ELY, NEVADA LUSTER: GLASSY VITREOUS

NATURAL 24 FACET CRYSTAL MOHS HARDNESS 7.0 TO 7.5 Sharp geometric Almandine crystal perched on volcanic matrix

24 Facet Geometric Almandine Crystal

Bright, symmetrical trapezohedral crystal faces reflect incoming light cleanly across crisp isometric edges.

SYMMETRY: ISOMETRIC CRYSTAL HIGH DENSITY GARNET

TWIN CRYSTALS IN RHYOLITE ELY, NEVADA SPECIMEN Twin dark red Almandine garnet crystals exposed inside weathered volcanic matrix

Twin Almandine Crystals in Volcanic Matrix

Two high luster garnet crystals formed side by side inside a weathered volcanic rhyolite cavity.

TONE: DEEP CRIMSON GARNET NATURAL QUARTZ CAVITY

GARNET FIELDS ROCKHOUND AREA GREAT BASIN GOLD MATRIX Almandine garnet crystal perched on golden weathered matrix from Garnet Hill, Ely, Nevada

Crown Almandine on Weathered Matrix (Ely, NV)

Deep dark garnet facets set against warm Great Basin golden stone from the Garnet Hill collecting slopes.

SITE: GARNET HILL PARK ELEVATION: 7,050 FT

GARNET HILL PARK VISTA • ELY, NV ROBINSON CANYON & EGAN RANGE Scenic view from Garnet Hill near Ely, White Pine County, Nevada with pink volcanic slopes, juniper trees, and high desert mountain horizon

Scenic view from Garnet Hill near Ely, White Pine County, Nevada with pink volcanic slopes, juniper trees, and high desert mountain horizon

Garnet Hill Overlooking Robinson Canyon, Ely, NV

Looking across the pinkish volcanic slopes, juniper woodland, and Great Basin mountain horizon outside Ely, Nevada.

GREAT BASIN HIGH DESERT WHITE PINE COUNTY, NV