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ENCYCLOPEDIA
Garnet Full Guide
Characteristics of the Garnet
Etymology: The name is derived from the Greek granatum, meaning "grain", in reference to the red color of the pomegranate.
Family: Garnet
Chemical Composition: Nesosilicate with trace elements of Magnesium, Iron, Aluminium and Manganese depending on the type.
Hardness: 6.5 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale
Density: 3.47 – 4.15
Optical Properties: Single refractive
Refractive Index: 1.714 to 1.888
Birefringence: None
Crystal System: Rhombic Doecahedron
The origin of Garnets
Garnets can be traced back to Ancient Egypt.
The color of the garnet is dependent on the region in its found, due to its chemical complexity. Here is a list of countries where garnets can be found :
- The more common red garnets, almandines, pyropes and rhodolites are commonly found in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and the United States.
- Orange and brown spessartites and hessonite can be found in Namibia, Sri Lanka and Madagascar
- The rarest green garnets, known as demantoid (lime-green) and tsavorites (closer to grass) are found in Russia and East Africa.
Carat
The carat is the standard unit of measurement for the weight of gemstones. One carat is equal 200 milligrams.
It should not be mistaken with karat, which is the standard indicator for the purity of gold.
Garnets are among the denser gemstones, they will be smaller than other gemstones of equivalent weight.
The color of the Garnet
As mentioned earlier, the color of garnets is region-specific. Each type of garnet has its own complex chemical composition.
The green color of the tsavorites and demantoids will come from its chromium cation content, the ferric iron gives the yellow tint to the demantoids.
The purple-red and orange colors of the pyropes, spessartites and rhodolites can be attributed to chromium anion in its composition.
Discover our Guide on the Colors of Gemstones.
The clarity of Garnets
The clarity of garnets is also dependent on its type. Rhodolite and pyropes are known to be eye-clean, meaning the inclusions can't be seen without magnification.
However, the orange spessartites and hessonites will often contain eye-visible inclusions.
Cut & Shapes
Red garnets can be found in large crystals, allowing for bigger cuts, and a wider array of shapes. Lapidaries will often cut them into the standard round shape, oval shape, cushion cut, but they will also be cut into more unusual shapes such as hearts or triangles.
The rarer green stones are found in smaller crystals, so lapidaries will try their best to keep most of the material from the rough crystal.
Round Shape Garnet
Oval Shape Garnet
Pear Shape Garnet
Marquise Shape Garnet
Cushion Cut Garnet
Princess Shape Garnet
Birthstone & Wedding Anniversary
The garnet is the birthstone of January.
The garnet is used to celebrate the 2nd wedding anniversary in the United States and the 82nd wedding anniversary in France.
Discover our Birthstone Full Guide.
Treatment
The garnet comes naturally in a wide array of colors, and is rarely subjected to color enhancements.
It will in rare cases go through fracture-filling treatments, to remove the cavities.
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