GARNET

     Garnet is the accepted birthstone for the month of January. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the second year of marriage. Garnet is not a single mineral but rather a group of similar minerals known as the "Garnet group." The most common deep red Garnets are Almandine/Pyrope, which is what most people mean when they say "Garnet." Pyrope Garnet is found many places in the United States, particularly in Arizona where the pebbles are excavated by ants while digging their holes. The ants then deposit the gems in their refuse mounds, giving this stone the name "ant-hill" Garnet! Garnets are able to withstand enormous heat, up to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. It derives its name from the Latin granutus , meaning "like a grain" (i.e., a pomegranate seed). Legend holds that Noah hung a large garnet in the ark for illumination. In 1905 a Garnet necklace dating from 3500 BC was found in Egypt around the neck of a young male's mummified body. It reportedly also gives its wearer guidance in the night, protection from nightmares, and according to the Egyptians, is an antidote for snake bites and food poisoning. It was also thought to have a special affinity with the blood.

     Garnet is a hard, durable, often very brilliant stone, available in many colors. You may be surprised to learn that garnets are found in every color except blue, including brilliant green tsavorite garnet, raspberry pink rhodolite garnet, and orange Malaya garnet. The Tsars of Russia favored rare green demantoid garnets, which are more highly dispersive than diamond. Tsavorite is a member of the garnet family and is often mistaken for other (usually more expensive) gems. It is one of the most beautiful, and all but a few would assume it was an emerald of the finest quality. In fact, it is "clearer", more brilliant, and more durable. There is also a rarer green garnet, called demantoid, which costs slightly more than tsavorite but which, although slightly softer, has more fire. These gems offer fine alternatives to the person desiring a lovely green gem who can't afford emerald. While still rare, expensive gems themselves, they are far less expensive than an emerald of comparable quality. Rhodolite Garnet is distinguished from others of the Garnet family by its pink-violet to purple-red color. One of the lesser known Garnets, it as actually a Pyrope-Almandine mix giving it a pleasing rhododendron-like color. The original locality for Rhodolite was Cowee Creek, North Carolina. Stones found there are small (1-2 carats), but new finds in Africa have yielded gems over 25 carats!

     Depending upon the variety, quality, and size, lovely garnets are available for under $20 per carat or more than $3,000 per carat. Garnet also occurs in certain shades of red that have been mistaken for some varieties of ruby. And in yellow it has been confused with precious topaz. Even blue color may occasionally be seen in a very rare color change phenomenon, which some garnets exhibit. It is best known in a deep red variety, sometimes with a brownish cast, but it is commonly found in orangish brown shades, and brilliant wine red shades as well. Garnets offer enough variety in appearance to suit every taste, as well as an outstanding price range to suit every pocketbook.

     As with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect it from scratches, sharp blows, and extreme temperature changes. 

TREATMENT: There is no known treatment for Garnets

MOHS HARDNESS: 7-7.5 (although hard, Garnets abrade easily and should be treated with care) Andradite (Demantoid) 6.5-7

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: Almandine: Mg 3 Fe 2 Si 3 O 12
Pyrope: Mg 3 Al 2 Si 3 O 12

REFRACTIVE INDEX: n= (approx.)1.75-1.766
(The angle light is bent traveling through a gemstone) Spessartite 1.81, Andradite 1.888

DENSITY (SPECIFIC DENSITY): 3.87-3.95
(The number of times heavier a gemstone is compared to water)

PRINCIPAL SOURCES: Mozambique, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Arizona, Brazil