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Almandine (Almandite)
Almandine North Bay Ontario Canada
This is the iron aluminium garnet it ranges in color from deep red to violet-red and its color is due to presence of idiochromatic iron (Fe). This variety is amongst the most valued garnet gems. The name Almandine is derived from the city of Alabanda, Asia Minor, where gems were traded more than 2000 years ago. Almandine is mainly found in India, Australia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Argentina, and Tanzania. The best-quality transparent almandine resembles ruby, tourmaline and red spinel in color therefore it can easily be confused by them. The cabochon cut is most commonly used for this gemstone. Specimens with darker color may be cut in the hollow cabochon style. This produces a more pleasing effect. Some of the red almandite garnets show the stellate effect in the form of a cross or a six-rayed star.
Pyrope
Pyrope is another red variety of garnet, however transparent pyropes are often lighter than almandine in color and generally the lighter the color, the more expensive it is. The red color is either due to idiochromatic Iron (Fe) due to blending with Almandine, or from traces of Chromium (Cr). It is not often found in good crystals, it usually occurs as grains or small irregular masses. Pyrope was very poular in Bohemian jewellery during the 18th and 19th centuries. The gemstone is mainly found in Myanmar, China, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the United States. Like Almandine, pyrope can be confused with ruby, tourmaline and red spinel. Pyrope derives its name from the Greek word meaning fire-like.
Pyrope, Lanark Ontario Canada
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Pyrope, Theford Mines Quebec Canada
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Spessartine
Spessartine, Hastings Ontario Canada
Spessartine name is derived from the first place where the gemstone was discovered, Spessart region of western Germany. Spessartine has a rich orange-red color and feather or lacelike inclusions, which are actually clouds of minute drops. Spessartine is fairly rare asnangem garnet, and one of the most beautiful. Large stones are very rare, and usually quite rare. Spessartine is usually found in pegmatites and placer deposits. It is mainly found in Nigeria, Tanzania, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and China. You can find our interactive map for gemstone of the world Here.
Andradite
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Andradite is the calcium iron variety of garnet family. It is named after the Portuguese mineralogist D' Andrada. Andradite has tree varieties which are commonly used as gemstones. These varieties include 1- demantoid, this is the most valuable variety of andradite. It is a transparent grass green to emerald green or olive green stone that show a very good brilliant. The fire and brilliancy displayed by this stone is equal to that in diamond. This similarity of the demantoid's brilliance to that in diamond has given the variety its name. Demant is the Dutch word for diamond. The gemstone was first discovered in the Urals and the most specimens have come from there. Due to its relative softness, demantoid gemstones are used as pendants and necklaces. 2- Yellow variety is called topazolite, owing to its very great resemblance to topaz. 3- The black variety is called melanite which is mainly used as mourning jewellery.
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Demantoid, Lanark Ontario Canada
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Melanite, Adirondacks New York
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Grossularite
Grossularite, Gouverneur New York USA
Grossularite, or simply grossular, is the calcium aluminium garnet. Grossularite can be completely colorless or white (other colors are various shades of yellow and brown, red rose, pale green and rarely emerald green). Grossularite derives its name from the botanical term for gooseberry, because of the pale green color of the specimens which were first discovered. The transparent, yellow, orange or reddish-brown varieties of grossularite are the gemstones hessonite or cinnamon stone. The yellowish and brownish varieties are sometimes also referred to as hyacinth and jacinth respectively.
Garnet Gemstones in Jewellery
Garent is a hard and durable gemstone therefore it is suitable for most type of jewellery especially rings and necklaces. Pyrope and almandine garnets (especially with rose-cut) are used for antique jewellery restoration, especially that of Victorian Jewellery. Read more about garnet shopping guide.
Garnet Gemstones Care
As all the garnet gemstone family members are both hard and durable they can be cleaned in ultrasonic cleaning machine, any commercial jewellery cleaner or mild soap and water using brush. The gemstone should be rinsed and dried thoroughly after cleaning.
Garnet Gemstones Basic Properties Table
| Data Common to all Garnets |
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|---|---|
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale |
| Crystal System | (Cubic) rhombic dodecahedron, icositetrahedron |
| Transparency | Transparent to opaque |
| Cleavage | Indistinct |
| Fracture | Conchoidal, splintery, brittle |
| Data for different Garnets |
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Pyrope | magnesium aluminium silicate Mg3 Al2 (SiO4)3 |
| Almandine |
iron aluminium silicate Fe3 Al2 (SiO4)3 |
| Spessartine | manganese aluminium silicate Mn3 Al2 (SiO4)3 |
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