- This article is about the mineral. For the bird sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Pyrope, see fire-eyed diucon.
The mineral
pyrope is a member of the
garnet group. Pyrope is the only member of the garnet family to always display red colouration in natural samples, and it is from this characteristic that it gets its name: from the Greek for
fire and
eye. Despite being less common than most garnets, it is a widely used
gemstone with numerous alternative names, some of which are
misnomers.
Chrome pyrope, and
Bohemian garnet are two alternative names, the usage of the latter being discouraged by the
Gemological Institute of America. Misnomers include
Colorado ruby,
Arizona ruby,
California ruby,
Rocky Mountain ruby,
Elie Ruby,
Bohemian carbuncle, and
Cape ruby.