Garnet: it is not just red, it is a gem of many colors

Most people think of a deep red gemstone when they think of garnet, but garnet is actually a whole series of different gems. Beyond the familiar deep reds, garnet can be purchased in shades of cinnamon to tangerine orange, light yellow, dark purple, grass greens, and soft lavender pink. Garnet is all of these colors and many more. Garnets are actually a closely related group of different gemstones that are available in almost every color. There are garnets that change color in different light, translucent green garnets that look like jade, and garnets with stars. Some types of garnets have been mined for thousands of years and some varieties of garnets have been discovered in recent decades. Garnets are fairly hard and durable gemstones that are great for jewelry use, except for demantoid, which is slightly softer and requires more protection. Because some garnets are inexpensive and have been used in the past to make cheap jewelry, garnet is the gemstone that doesn’t seem to get the “respect” it deserves. This is changing rapidly in light of the many new varieties of amazing colors now available in Garnet gemstones.

Garnets have been used as ornamentation for over 5,000 years. Garnet beads have been found in Egyptian excavations dating back to 3200 BC. It is said that Aaron’s breastplate, which was used around 2000 BC. C., contained a garnet. Asians in the 4th century BC. They used garnets to create their stamps. Garnets were often carved into cameos and intaglios and worn in rings. Carbuncle is an ancient term that normally refers to a cabochon garnet. The rear of the cockpit was hollowed out to create a brighter garnet and make it more transparent. The ancient world is full of praise for carbuncle, the bright red charcoal of a gemstone we now know as garnet. The garnet name probably comes from the pomegranate. Many antique pieces of garnet jewelry are studded with tiny red stones that look a lot like a cluster of pomegranate seeds!

The Garnet group of minerals has 20 different species. The most commonly recognized are Pyrope, Almandite, Spessartite, Grossular, and Andradite. Garnet’s chemical formula is complex and all species have slightly different combinations of elements. During crystallization, some elements are exchanged to form a Mixed Garnet consisting of two or more different species. Pyrope-Almandite, Almandite-Spessartite, and Pyrope-Spessartite are examples of these types of intergrowth. Garnets have a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 and are excellent choices for jewelry. Garnet crystals form in the cubic system, typically as a 12-sided crystal or a dodecahedron. They are available in all colors except pure blue. One problem with some types of garnets comes from their deeply saturated color. In many types of garnet, especially Pyrope and some Almandines, gems cut in large sizes will be too dark to reflect light and the stones will appear black. This fact is important to consider when purchasing larger deep colored garnets. In general, garnets are not treated to change color, as is the case with many other gemstones. Here is a brief description of some of the better known gem varieties of garnet gemstones:

Almandine

Almandine is perhaps the most common of the garnet family, and it is the deep red to reddish brown stone that is most often thought of when people think of garnet. It is a cheap stone, but new mines in East Africa are producing Almandine in more desirable colors from red to orange-red that do not have brown undertones. The main sources for Almandine are Madagascar, India, and Sri Lanka. Almandines are sometimes available in large sizes, and most garnet sculptures are made in Almandine. Whole glasses or vases have been made of single crystals. Due to their depth of color and saturation, some faceted gemstones cut too large from this deep colored material will not shine because they are too dark to reflect light.

Rhodolite

Rhodolite is the name used to describe the lovely pink, purple or lavender red garnets, which are a mixture of almandite and pyrope. This name was first used in the late 1800s to describe the new rhododendron shade of garnets discovered in North Carolina. In general, Rhodolite Garnets are not as dark as ordinary Pyrope or Almandine Garnets. Most of the rhodolites seen today are of African origin and are shiny, transparent gemstones. These are probably the most popular garnets seen in fine jewelry today. Common shades of rhodolite include stone red, purplish red, and the popular raspberry rhodolite, a rich purple-red with bright lavender reflections. Rhodolite garnet is mined in Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. Brazil is producing a dark purplish rhodolite, sometimes called grape garnet, due to its color similarity to concord grape jam.

Tsavorite

Tsavorite is the most desirable of all garnets, with a wonderful purity and intensity of its beautiful green color. Until tsavorite was discovered in the late 1960s, there was no gemstone other than emerald that could offer the gem buyer such an intense dark green color. This magnificent green garnet has been in high demand for jewelry since its discovery, and for good reason: it is harder than emerald, more durable in jewelry, less inclusive than emerald, brighter when faceted, and much rarer. than emerald. In short, it is (in every way) a better gemstone, but it lacks the magic and antiquity of the name “emerald.” For this reason, it is known to far fewer people, is in much lower demand, and is therefore much less expensive than emerald of comparable color. Still, because of its beauty, tsavorite is the most expensive of the garnet family. In reality, it is a grossular form, green in color due to the presence of traces of metallic vanadium.

Tsavorite was first unearthed in Tanzania and Kenya; the name “Tsavorite” is actually a trade name created by Tiffany and Co., referring to Tsavo National Park in Kenya (located near the town of Tsavorite). The geology of tsavorite is such that supply is extremely sporadic. The heat and folding of the rock hundreds of millions of years ago that formed Tsavorite also broke most of the crystals. It is very rare to find tsavorite in sizes greater than five carats, and most faceted stones are less than two carats. Many tsavorite deposits are small and unpredictable – the seams narrow and disappear suddenly, with no indication of where to look next. Most of the rough is badly shredded in place (due to earth movements over the centuries), which explains the great rarity of large, clean stones.

There have been perhaps 40 different areas where tsavorite has been mined, but only four mining companies are still producing in commercial quantities. The Scorpion mine in southeastern Kenya is now producing from sunken tunnels on a slope of more than 200 feet. The other large producer in this area has a large open pit operation at a depth of 40 feet that has produced a considerable amount of Tsavorite. Unfortunately, owners cannot continue to mine with this method and are beginning to introduce underground mining. Recently, a new tsavorite-producing area was discovered in Lokirima, about a thousand kilometers northwest of previously known locations. Although this locality is only producing a small amount, it is promising that there is a possibility of finding tsavorite in a wider area than previously thought.

The price of tsavorite garnet has more than tripled since its introduction to the market, but at current price levels it still sells for one-tenth or less the price of an emerald of comparable quality. Stones over 2 carats are extremely rare, and fine colored gems over 5 carats are virtual museum pieces.