Garnet is derived from Latin granatum which means “looks like seeds”. The natural output state of garnet is granular that looks like seed of pomegranate. It is called “dark purple stone” in Chinese gem processing industry.

General Characteristic

Garnet is a mineral family, including a group of the minerals with similar crystal habit. Though their appearance and physical characteristics are similar, their chemical components are still with some differences. They share the common chemical formula as E3E2(SiO4)3 which indicates they are with same anion of (SiO4)3-1, but with different positive ions as:

E3 refers to diatomic metal ions as: Fe+2, Mg+2, Mn+2 or Ca+2

E2 refers to trivalent metal ions as: Al+3, Fe+3 or Cr+3

The combination of different valence states’ metal ions forms different series garnet. The minor variation of chemical components (metal positive ions) will cause the tiny physical difference of garnet family items. But as the garnet, following general characteristics are available for them:

1. Crystal system: isometric system (cubic system)

2. Crystal form: rhombic dodecahedron and tetragonal trisoctahedron are common

3. Cleavage: non

4. Gloss: strong vitreous luster

5. Transparency: transparent or semi-transparent

Specialty of different garnets

I: Pyrope: it was used to be decoration stones in ancient Egypt and amulets in ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

Color: dark red or red, some are pink. The best quality ones are with rosy which are pretended to be rubies.

Inclusion: generally speaking, it is seldom to be with inclusion, just some acicular crystals or tiny quartz crystals are available.

Origin: it is available in almost all countries of the world, but few are gem level. The main origins are India, Brazil, Sri Lanka and China. 

II: Almandine: it is one of the most common almandines, which is called as “precious garnet”. Because of high ferric content of 43%, its color is dark. Generally speaking, it will be cut thinner to enhance the transparency and avoid too dark color.

Color: reddish brown, violet lake, fuchsia

Inclusion: rutile, hornblende, and etc.

Origins: it is available in almost all countries of the world, but few are gem level. The main origins are India, Brazil, Sri Lanka and China.

III: Spessartine

Color: most are tawny and aurantiacus. The most beautiful color is orange red which is mediate-high grade one of garnet.

Origins: Sri Lanka, Burma, Brazil, Canada, and etc.

IV: Grossular: it is available in almost all countries of the world and is with most abundant colors in the garnet family.

Color: the most common one is yellow green and jade green is also available (vanadium is the coloring element and it is a “allochromatic color gem”)

Origin: California of the Unites States, Pakistan, South Africa, and etc.

V: Andradite: it is called as demantoid as well. Most are green color and the high quality one is with emerald green color. Due to its dispersion is more obvious than other garnets and the refined finished products are very beautiful, its value is the most expensive one among other garnets. If it is with emerald green color, good quality and 1 karat big, its price is similar to emerald. The yellow green one which is called as “topazolite” is general with small size. But the big size and high quality topazolite often costs high price as well.

Origin: Ural Mountains of Russia, Zaire, North Korea, and etc.

VI: Uvarovite: it is a rare mineral with dark green and emerald green color. Its size is general small which is not bigger than 2mm. The uvarovite which is produced in Finland is with bigger size but poor transparency. So that variety is with slight significance.

Synthesis and identification

Because the price of garnet is not high, generally speaking, it is no special counterfeit for it. Though glass is used to be pretended as garnet, its poor density can be checked out easily when you touch it. The hardness is quite different as well.

The synthetic artifacts are not used to be pretended to be natural garnets, but to be diamond, emerald and some other top grade gems. In order to enhance the optics effect of the artifacts, some other elements are added into it, rather than copy it as the natural products’elements. The most common ones are following two: yttrium aluminum garnet and gadolinium gallium garnet.