Color: The versatile garnet comes in a virtual rainbow of
colors, including pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, violet, green, colorless,
occasionally black, brown and many shades of red and green. The most common color of
garnets is reddish brown. Bohemian Garnet is deep red gemstone, Russian Demantoid and
African Tsavorite are vibrant green.
Description: Pyrope: Mg3Al2[SiO4]3.
Garnets are a group of common silicate minerals that have similar crystal
structures and chemical compositions.
It can be translucent to transparent, sometimes opaque with a vitreous or resinous lustre.
The best known type of garnet is red semi-precious stone pyrope, one of several red gems,
which the ancients used to call Carbuncles.
Garnets are actually one of the largest families of gemstones. Most natural garnets are
mixtures of two or more of the following pure species: pyrope, almandine, spessartine,
uvarovite, grossular, andradite. Garnets occur in a very wide variety of formations,
colors, and clarities.
The name's origin: Garnets were so called by the ancient
Greeks since color reminded them of the pomegranate seed or granatum.
Birthstone: The garnet is considered to be the birthstone
for Capricornus (Goat): Dec. 22 - Jan. 19.
Varieties: There are following major types of garnets:
Almandine, Pyrope (also called Bohemian garnet, or Cape ruby), Spessartine, Grossular
(also called grossularite, or Gooseberry garnet), Andradite, Rhodolite, Carbuncle,
Hessonite (also called essonite, or Cinnamon stone), Topazolite, Uvarovite and Uralian
emerald (or demantoid).
Care and treatment: Clean garnet with a dry soft cloth. As
with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect it from scratches, sharp blows, harsh
chemicals and extreme temperatures.
From the stone history: One of the world's most ancient gems,
garnet has been treasured for thousands of years.
Use of garnets as gems is traced to the Nile Delta in 3100 B.C. Egytian artisans created
beautifull garnet beads, bracelets and other jewelry. Garnets since ancient times used
widely as an abrasive. Garnets are said to have been used by Asiatic tribes in place of
bullets.
During the latter part of the 19th century, garnet bracelets and brooches were
particularly popular. Most familiar during the peak of popularity were varieties of
pyrope.
The hardness of garnets and their sharp fracture make them suitable as abrasives for wood,
leather, glass, metals, and plastics.
Garnet varieties have become known by misleading names, frequently consisting of a
locality with the name of another mineral variety, such as Uralian emerald or Cape ruby.
Shopping guide: Garnet is a reasonably priced stone. It is
beautiful in rings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets. There are some beautiful orange
garnets. A green tsavorite garnet is a very rare and high-priced stone.
The dazzling beauty of garnets is responsible for their widespread use as gemstones.
Healing ability: Garnet is an excellent assistance for blood
deficiency diseases. It stimulates bloodstream and pituitary gland, relieves rheumatism
and arthritis pain.
Garnet combats depression and lethargy. Garnet also stimulates the spleen properly. Garnet
protects against depression and impure thoughts. Cures fever and promotes good health.
Mystical power: Garnet should be carried close to the body.
Its energy is balancing and peaceful. This stone of passion stimulates the sexual drive.
Garnet gives energy and courage. It is said to encourage robust good health and sexual
desire, enhance the wearer's imagination. Garnet symbolizes fire, faith, courage, truth,
grace, compassion, constancy and fidelity. It also offers protection to the traveler.
Deposits: Garnets are found in a wide variety of locations
including Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Canada and USA. In USA
garnet has been obtained in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, New Hampshire, New Mexico,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Florida, California and Virginia. The majority of
today's Garnet supplies come from Africa. Notable quantities of garnets have been also
found in Czech Republic and Spain.
The oranges and browns of Spessartite and Hessonite hail from Namibia and Sri Lanka.