Garnet

Introduction

Garnet is a naturally occurring gemstone.Its name comes from Latin granatus meaning seed, because it often resembles small round seeds when found in its matrix rock.Rather than a single gemstone, garnet is a family of related minerals, some of which occur as gemstones.Each has a common crystal structure, and a similar chemical composition.The popular understanding of garnet is as an inexpensive dark red stone. Because it is relatively common and inexpensive, it is often thought of as "only garnet", and as being inferior.This bias extends to other rare and attractive forms of garnet.

Colour

Garnet occurs naturally in a large range of colours including: red, orange, brown, green, yellow, and brown.

Two Families of Garnet

There are two main theoretical groups or "families" of garnet:- pyrope, almandite, spessartite, which are all (metal) aluminium silicates, anduvarovite, grossularite, andradite, which are all calcium (metal) silicates.In practice, there are probably very few garnets with the precise pure chemical composition shown for their type, almost all garnets are of mixed types, where one type is partially replaced by another type.

Trade Terminology

In the trade, gem dealers hardly ever refer to their stock as "pyrope" or "almandite". Instead, they will often refer to "brown" or Indian garnets. As we have stated, very few, if any, pure "types" of garnet occur, most specimens approximate to a particular type.Brown and purpleish "Indian" garnets will usually be towards the pyrope end of the pyrope-almandite axis.Reddish "African" garnets will usually be towards the almandite end of the pyrope-almandite axis.Rhodolite garnets are usually about midway along the pyrope-almandite axis.

Demantoid Garnet

Demantoid garnet is a rare and beautiful bright grass green sub-variety of andradite garnet. It appears to have first been discovered around 1892 in the Bobrovka area of Russia.The Bobrovka is a small tributary of the River Tschussowaja in the Sissersk region on the western side of the Ural Mountains.It was at first thought to be emerald, which is found nearby, and has been erroneously called "Uralian emerald".The name demantoid means diamond-like, because it has a very high adamantine lustre, and a colour dispersion higher than diamond. The only disadvantageous property of demantoid is its low hardness figure at about 6.5 Moh. It is the softest of the garnets, and is more suitable for use in brooches, pendants, or ear-rings, rather than rings, because of this.The brilliant colour of demantoid garnet is due to partial replacement of the silicate by chromic oxide.A diagnostic characteristic of demantoid is the inclusion of radiating fibres of byssolite (asbestos) fibres in a pattern described as a horse-tail. There is no other green stone which shows this feature.In late Victorian times, and early in the twentieth century, demantoid became a very sought after stone. It commanded high prices because it has never been available in large quantity. In recent decades, it has been unobtainable as newly mined stones, and has only been available from antique jewellery.Recently, small finds have again been made in Russia, and a small quantity of fine quality stones have recently come onto the market. Gemstone lovers wishing to acquire a piece of demantoid garnet should take this opportunity to do so. If the current seams of demantoid run out, there may be another century without new stocks of demantoid becoming available.

Tsavolite Garnet

Tsavolite, previously called tsavorite, is a bright green variety of grossular garnet, its colour being induced by the presence of chromium.

Two Families of GarnetThere are two main theoretical groups or "families" of garnet:- pyrope, almandite, spessartite, which are all (metal) aluminium silicates, anduvarovite, grossularite, andradite, which are all calcium (metal) silicates.In practice, there are probably very few garnets with the precise pure chemical composition shown for their type, almost all garnets are of mixed types, where one type is partially replaced by another type.
Trade TerminologyIn the trade, gem dealers hardly ever refer to their stock as "pyrope" or "almandite". Instead, they will often refer to "brown" or Indian garnets. As we have stated, very few, if any, pure "types" of garnet occur, most specimens approximate to a particular type.Brown and purpleish "Indian" garnets will usually be towards the pyrope end of the pyrope-almandite axis.Reddish "African" garnets will usually be towards the almandite end of the pyrope-almandite axis.Rhodolite garnets are usually about midway along the pyrope-almandite axis.
Demantoid GarnetDemantoid garnet is a rare and beautiful bright grass green sub-variety of andradite garnet. It appears to have first been discovered around 1892 in the Bobrovka area of Russia.The Bobrovka is a small tributary of the River Tschussowaja in the Sissersk region on the western side of the Ural Mountains.It was at first thought to be emerald, which is found nearby, and has been erroneously called "Uralian emerald".The name demantoid means diamond-like, because it has a very high adamantine lustre, and a colour dispersion higher than diamond. The only disadvantageous property of demantoid is its low hardness figure at about 6.5 Moh. It is the softest of the garnets, and is more suitable for use in brooches, pendants, or ear-rings, rather than rings, because of this.The brilliant colour of demantoid garnet is due to partial replacement of the silicate by chromic oxide.A diagnostic characteristic of demantoid is the inclusion of radiating fibres of byssolite (asbestos) fibres in a pattern described as a horse-tail. There is no other green stone which shows this feature.In late Victorian times, and early in the twentieth century, demantoid became a very sought after stone. It commanded high prices because it has never been available in large quantity. In recent decades, it has been unobtainable as newly mined stones, and has only been available from antique jewellery.Recently, small finds have again been made in Russia, and a small quantity of fine quality stones have recently come onto the market. Gemstone lovers wishing to acquire a piece of demantoid garnet should take this opportunity to do so. If the current seams of demantoid run out, there may be another century without new stocks of demantoid becoming available.
Tsavolite GarnetTsavolite, previously called tsavorite, is a bright green variety of grossular garnet, its colour being induced by the presence of chromium.

Topazolite

A name used for a variety of garnet with a topaz-yellow or an olive green colour.
MagnetismSome types of garnet, particularly the reddish "African" garnets, which are usually found in close association with diamonds, showing distinct magnetism.
A name used for a variety of garnet with a topaz-yellow or an olive green colour.

Magnetism

Some types of garnet, particularly the reddish "African" garnets, which are usually found in close association with diamonds, showing distinct magnetism.