The mineral hessonite is a variety of grossular, a member of the garnet mineral group with chemical formula Ca3Al2Si3O12. Hessonite belongs to the cubic crystal system and when clear, crystals are much in demand as gemstones, with their characteristic, translucent orange to dark red colors. This polished surface is of the massive variety, not of a crystalline gem quality. Actual width of sample is 100 mm.