Garnet: Mineral Information & Garnet Facts

There are six main Garnet Varieties based on ideal end-member garnet chemical compositions:

Some garnets have an intermediate composition somewhere between these end-members like the rhodolite garnet, the Mozambique garnet, and the malaia garnet varieties.

Some of the named garnet varieties are of specific colors like the green grossular tsavorite garnet, the yellow-orange to red grossular hessonite garnet, the green andradite variety demantoid garnet, and the intense orange spessartite variety known as mandarin garnet. There also is a very rare color behavior garnet variety known as color change garnet!

Garnet Mineral Information Topics On This Page:

Natural Garnets

Garnet Varieties & Natural Garnet Merchandise

Garnet Product Categories in Our Online Store

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GARNET PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• General garnet composition: A₃B₂(SiO₄)₃, where Ca, Mg, Fe²⁺, or Mn²⁺ occupy the A site, and the B site contains Al, Fe³⁺ or Cr³⁺. Hydrous garnets may contain up to 8.5% H₂O.
• Chemical Composition of Common End-member Garnet Species
  • Pyralspite Garnet Group
    • Almandine: Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
    • Pyrope: Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
    • Spessartine: Mn₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
  • Ugrandite Garnet Group
    • Andradite: Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃
    • Grossular: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
    • Uvarovite: Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃
  • Less Common End-member Garnet Species
    • Calderite: Mn₃Fe³⁺₂(SiO₄)₃
    • Goldmanite: Ca₃V₂(SiO₄)₃
    • Hydrogrossular: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3-x(OH)_4x
      • Hibschite: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3-x(OH)_4x (where x is between 0.2 and 1.5)
      • Katoite: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3-x(OH)_4x (where x is greater than 1.5)
    • Kimzeyite: Ca₃(Zr,Ti)₂[(Si,Al,Fe³⁺)O₄]₃
    • Knorringite: Mg₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃
    • Majorite: Mg₃(Fe,Al,Si)₂(SiO₄)₃, discovered in a meteorite!
    • Morimotoite: Ca₃Ti⁴⁺Fe²⁺(SiO₄)₃
    • Schorlomite: Ca₃(Ti⁴⁺,Fe³⁺)₂[(Si,Ti)O₄]₃
• Class: nesosilicates
• Crystal system: isometric; 4/m bar3 2/m
• Crystal habit: commonly forms as rhombic dodecahedrons, trapezohedrons, or a mixture of these two forms. Rarely as hexoctahedrons. Also as coarse or fine massive granular.
• Specific gravity: 3.4 - 4.3 (almandine 3.95-4.32, pyrope 3.53-3.87, spessartine 3.80-4.25, andradite 3.70-4.18, grossular 3.56-3.71 and uvarovite 3.40-3.90)
• Index of refraction: 1.72-1.94 (almandine 1.75-1.83, pyrope 1.73-1.77, spessartine 1.79-1.81, andradite 1.86-1.94, grossular 1.72-1.80 and uvarovite 1.74-1.87)
• Birefringence: 0.000-0.005 (almandine 0.000, pyrope 0.000, spessartine 0.000-0.004, andradite 0.000-0.005, grossular 0.000-0.005 and uvarovite 0.000-0.005)
• Pleochroism: none
• Hardness: 6.5 - 7.5
• Color: Garnets occur in all colors except blue, and some rare color change garnets do have blue-ish hues under cetain kinds of light. Almandine is typically a deep red-violet, also can be red, brownish-red and brownish-black. Pyrope usually a blood-red, also dark red, purplish-red, orangish-red and pinkish-red. Spessartine can be orange, reddish-orange, red, reddish-brown, yellowish-brown and brown. Andradite occurs in yellowish-green, green, greenish-brown, gray and black. Grossular can be colorless, gray, many shades of yellow and green, also pink, red, brown and black. Uvarovite is a dark green.
• Luster: vitreous to resinous, can occur with chatoyancy due to minute asbestiform inclusions of pyroxene or amphibole, yielding a four-ray star when fashioned into a cabochon gem.
• Transparency: transparent to opaque
• Cleavage: none
• Fracture: conchoidal, somewhat brittle
• Streak: white

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Varieties of GARNET

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GARNET BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The garnets are a group of mineral species all having essentially the same isometric crystal structure but varying in chemical composition and in many of their physical properties.

There are six species of common garnets based on ideal end-member chemical compositions. These six species are divided into two groups; the pyralspite group which are the pure chemical end-members Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ (almandine), Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ (pyrope) and Mn₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ (spessartine), and the ugrandite group or calcium garnet group consisting of Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃ (andradite), Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ (grossular), and Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃ (uvarovite, which actually is not 'common' at all!). Extensive solid solution occurs within these two groups, but normally very little substitution occurs between them.

Garnets very rarely if ever occur in nature with compositions precisely matching the pure end-member common garnet species (almandine, pyrope, spessartine, andradite, grossular and uvarovite). A natural garnet's composition typically falls somewhere between these end-members, somewhere within the solid solution ranges for the pyralspite group or the ugrandite group. Varietal names have been given to some garnets of intermediate composition in these solid solution series such as the rose-red to purple rhodolite garnet, which has a chemical composition averaging a 2:1 mixture of pyrope to almandine. An additional intermediate variety between pyrope and almandine with a chemical composition averaging a 1:1 mixture of pyrope to almandine is the Mozambique garnet with its beautiful dark orange-red to red color. Another intermediate composition varietal example is the malaia garnet which is a yellow to orange to red garnet variety of an intermediate composition range between spessartite garnet gemstones and pyrope garnet gemstones. This garnet variety also has a significant grossular component, which is quite unusual and unexpected due to the significant size difference between the substituting ions.

The ions Cr³⁺, V³⁺ and Ti^3+/4+ can substitute in some of the common garnet compositions or occur as trace impurities, resulting in numerous less common garnet varieties. Some of these less common garnet varieties are of specific colors such as the green vanadium grossular garnet variety tsavorite and the green chromium andradite garnet variety demantoid. When significant amounts of vanadium and chromium impurities occur in malaia garnets, a distinct color change is visible when viewed under fluorescent light versus incandescent light. Garnets exhibiting this rare color behavior are known as color change garnets.

Grossular garnets of yellow-orange to orange-red to brown colors are known as hessonite garnets. Some grossular garnet occurs in a translucent massive form known as hydrogrossular with (OH)₄^-4 substituting for (SiO₄)^-4 tetrahedra in its crystal structure.

Garnet is allochromatic, meaning that most of the color variations in different garnets are due to their highly variable trace element impurities rather than to their bulk composition elements. The color we see in garnets is produced when light is selectively absorbed by these ions or by interactions between these ions (intervalent charge transfers).

GARNET GEOLOGIC OCCURRENCE

Garnets form in a variety of geologic settings, depending on the garnet species.

Almandine typically occurs in schists and gneisses, resulting from regional metamorphism of argillaceous sediments. It is a characteristic mineral constituent of the amphibolite metamorphic facies, also appearing in the granulite facies. Almandine also occurs in pegmatite dikes and in some granitic and volcanic rocks, as well as in sedimentary deposits as detrital grains.

Pyrope is characteristic of ultra-mafic rocks such as peridotites, kimberlites, eclogites, and serpentines, and in sedimentary deposits derived from their weathering.

Spessartine occurs occasionally in granitic pegmatites and in skarns, also found in sedimentary deposits.

Andradite commonly occurs in contact metamorphic zones, resulting from the metamorphism of impure limestone deposits. Andradites also are found in some metasomatic skarn deposits. The light colored andradite varieties topazolite and demantoid occur mainly in serpentinites and chlorite schists. The darker andradite varieties schorlomite and melanite are found mainly in alkaline igneous rocks such as phonolites and nepheline syenites.

Grossular garnet occurs mainly in contact and regional metamorphic deposits, resulting from metamorphism of impure limestones. Fine gem grade grossular garnets have been discovered in pegmatites. Grossular also has been found in alkaline igneous rocks, and has been reported in hydrothermal veins.

Uvarovite is a rare garnet occurring in peridotite and serpentinite deposits associated with chromite.

GARNET DIAGNOSTICS & IDENTIFICATION

Garnets are usually recognized from other minerals by their form, lack of cleavage, color and hardness.

It is not possible to determine the precise species or variety of a garnet based solely upon a comparison of its refractive index and specific gravity (let alone determining a variety solely by its color!), although comparing the refractive index and specific gravity can narrow down the possibilities considerably.
In most cases, unit cell dimension measurements can be compared with the refractive index and specific gravity to determine chemical composition in terms of major end-members. In the absence of chemical analysis some ambiguitiy will often still exist, leaving one to rely on additional information such as occurance, associated minerals and color.

However, methods that rely on specific gravity measurement can be misleading, because the specific gravity is not only difficult to measure accurately, but also is prone to error in garnets due to their abundant inclusions which can alter their specific gravity considerably.

Perhaps the most reliable method outside of chemical analysis for determining garnet species and varieties in gem garnets is by comparing their absorption spectrum, refractive index and color, which gives a conclusive identification. Another method to distinguish garnet varieties utilizes the combination of the specific gravity, refractive index and the unit cell dimension.

Characteristic inclusions can be found in some garnet varieties. Under close inspection, some hessonite gemstones display a swirled or oily appearance known as treacle. These diagnostic treacle inclusions in hessonite are not present in other garnet varietries.
Another example of a garnet variety with a disinguishing inclusion is demantoid garnet. When examined closely, some demantoid gemstones display fibrous amphibole inclusions which have the appearance of horse tails. These diagnostic horse tail inclusions in demantoid are not present in other garnet varietries.

Some almandine garnets form with asbestiform mineral inclusions, typically of pyroxene or amphibole, that give a chatoyant effect yielding a four-ray star when fashioned into a cabochon gem. Such gems are popularly known as star garnets.

GARNET HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND USES

The name garnet is from the Latin word granatus which originated when garnet grains in rock were compared to the dark red seeds of the pomegranate fruit.
Pyralspite is derived from the names of the three garnet species in its group: PYRope, ALmandine, and SPessartine, with 'ite' added to the end.
Ugrandite is derived from the names of the three garnet species in its group: Uvarovite, GRossular, and ANDradite, with 'ite' added to the end.
Almandine was named after the ancient locality Alabander in Asia minor, where once many garnets were cut and polished.
Pyrope is from the Greek for fire-like, refering to its color.
Spessartine was named for a locality in the Spessart district in Bavaria.
Andradite was named after the Portuguese mineralogist d'Andrade.
Grossular was named after the gooseberry R. grossularia, because of the similar pale green color of the original specimens.
Uvarovite is named after the Russian mineralogist Count Sergei Simonovitch Uvarov.
Rhodolite is from the Greek rhodon meaning rose, refering to its color.
Malaia is from the Swahili word malia meaning out of the family, refering to the fact that this garnet variety typically has some distinctively different physical properties than other garnets found in the same area.
Tsavorite is named after the Tsavor Game Preserve of Kenya, near which it was discovered.
Demantoid is from the French demant meaning diamond, in allusion to its similar brilliance.
Melanite is from the Greek melanos meaning black, refering to its color.
Topazolite named after its similarity to yellow topaz.

Garnets have been used as gemstones for many thousands of years. In ancient times they were known as carbuncles, as were most other red gemstones. They were in the 'Breastplate of Judgement' of Aaron, described in the bible (Exodus: xxviii, 15-30). The Koran states that the fourth heaven is composed of carbuncle. In Vedic astrology (1000's of years older than western astrology and still practiced by millions today), the brownish-orange/red hessonite garnet has long been a preferred talisman for warding off the evil influences of the celestial body named Rahu. Garnet was considered a sacred stone by many native indian tribes of North, South and Central America.
In 1892, the Hunzas used bullets made of garnet against the British troops in Kashmir, believing them to be more deadly than lead.
Historically, garnets were believed to give protection from wounds and poison, to stop bleeding and to symbolize truth & fidelity, and bring prosperity.
As gemstones, garnets today are more popular than ever. Some of the newer varieties such as tsavorite garnet gemstones have only become available in the last century.
Garnets are also used today for a number of abrasive purposes.

Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January.
Garnet is the symbolic gemstone for the 18th wedding anniversity.
The astrological signs of garnet are Leo, Virgo, Capricorn and Aquarius.

GARNET METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Garnets are said to enhance creativity and understanding, and to bring success in business. They also are said to strengthen willpower and increase self-esteem and popularity.
Garnets are also said to help in the treatment of infectious diseases, blood poisoning, and heart & lung diseases.

The following properties are attributed to some of the specific garnet varieties:
Almandine is said to be particularly usefull for strengthening the heart, to inspire love and to perceive truth.
Andradite is said to give vitality and to help prevent fears, insecurity, and feelings of loneliness.
Pyrope is said to enhance understanding and wisdom.
Rhodolite is said to facilitate meditation and enhance intuition, and to inspire love.
Tsavorite Gemstones are said to facilitate meditation, and to enhance spiritual awareness and telepathic abilities.

For additional metaphysical properties of garnets, see our Metaphysical Books section.

This is the end of our Garnet Factsheet and Mineral Information page.