Rhodolite is not a pure variety of pyrope, but a mixture of pyrope and almandine . Many deceitful names are given to pyrope garnet in connotation with ruby. This is an ancient term and is rarely used anymore. 1.730 - 1.760 Almandine is the most common garnet, and the most widely used garnet gem. It is usually black and opaque, but lighter colored stones are occasionally found.
Most almandine is too dark to use as a gem.
The underside of some gems are hollowed out to let more light enter the stone, thus giving the gem a lighter color. If the bottom of the garnet is covered by a jewelry setting, the only way to easily determine if the garnet is hollow is by its lighter weight. Almandine garnets are usually faceted with the brilliant cut, which fully displays the fiery red color of this gem. Spessartine itself is not a common garnet, and is usually not found as transparent, gem quality material. Orange, pink, and brownish-red gems and cabochons are cut from this garnet.