Spessartine is a member of the Garnet group and is recognized for its striking orange and reddish-orange color. When this mineral is transparent and characteristically colored (and with a durable hardness of 7 on the Mohs hardness scale), it makes for a very desirable gemstone. It is also very popular with collectors with its perfectly symmetrical crystals, especially in matrix. Some of the most iconic and outstanding specimens are those found in China featuring aggregates of gemmy, orange-red Spessartine crystals coating Smoky Quartz crystals. It often occurs in association with Smoky Quartz, Albite, Muscovite, Quartz, Microcline and Schorl to name a few.

The crystal system for Spessartine is isometric, forming distinctive dodecahedral and trapezohedral crystals. Other forms include grainy, druzy, dense crystal clusters, veins in host rock and massive.

Spessartine Garnet is found throughout the world. Notable locations include Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Brazil, China, Italy, Namibia, Pakistan, Tanzania and the USA (California).