Geology / History
Garnets are a group of silicate minerals mainly occurring in igneous & metamorphic rock of high pressure environments. Often found as alluvial deposits due to erosion. Garnet has six species consisting of Pyrope, Almandite, Spessartite, Grossularite, Andradite & Uvarovite, many varieties of these species exist.
All species of garnets have similar physical properties & crystal forms. The difference is in their chemical composition. Amongst all varieties there are numerous specimens of perfect clarity & transparency, sometimes combined with the deepest shade of colour. These are often cut as ornamental gems.
Garnet has many industrial uses, most commonly as an abrasive. Garnet sand mixed with very high pressure water is used to cut steel & other materials. Humans have utilised Garnet since the Bronze Age as both a gemstone & an abrasive. The name garnet comes from the 14th‑century Middle English word gernet, meaning dark red. This is derived from the Latin granatus, from granum ('grain, seed').
Metaphysical Properties
The prophecy stone. All Garnets are record keepers that bring forth ancient wisdom. Said to warn of danger Garnets energy field enhances one’s ability to connect to the divine, this increases intuition & psychic prowess. Garnet raises the bodies Kundalini, stimulating life force energy & fortifies the light body.
A chameleon stone that teaches how to shapeshift, blend & master alchemy. As a stone of universal connectivity it strengthens instincts with courage, tenacity & hope. A regenerative fire is found within Garnet as it brings understanding with direction, leading to the soul’s divine purpose. A powerful ally for those needing light in a dark situation. Garnet casts out negative energies replacing them with positive inspiration.
All chakras can be clean tuned & energized with Garnet. Once chakra alignment is achieved it centers & expands the body’s energy fields. This energetic movement makes Garnet an excellent manifestation tool. Another attribute is its ability to bring happiness with creative energy.
Garnet helps the ascension process by acting as a buffer between the physical realm & other worlds. Allowing for easier transition as one progresses through higher vibrational states. It bring grace, ease & understanding while emotional layers are being shed. Allowing the new self to grow unencumbered by karmic debt & attachments. Along with a powerful energy of loving compassion, the truth & beauty of the infinite self is seen when mediating with Garnet.
Crystal Healing
Assists with exhaustion, fatigue, immune disorders, depression, stress, boosts metabolism & detoxification.
Mineralogy
Group: Nesosilicate – Garnet Group
Crystal System: isometric/Cubic rhombic dodecahedron, icositetrahedron
Composition: Pyrope -Mg3Al2Si3O12
Almandine - Fe3Al2Si3O12
Spessartite (Spessartine) - Mn3Al2Si3O12
Andradite - Ca3Fe2Si3O12
Grossular - Ca3Al2Si3O12
Uvarovite - Ca3Cr2Si3O1
Form/Habit:Rhombic dodecahedron or cubic
Hardness: 6.5–7.5
Cleavage: Indistinct
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven, splintery & brittle
Lustre: Vitreous to resinous
Streak: White
Specific Gravity: 3.1–4.3
Transparency: Transparent to opaque
R.I: 1.72–1.94
Colour: All colours & rarely blue
Birefringence: None
Fluorescence: Variable
Pleochroism: None
Other Characteristics: Variable magnetic attraction
Varieties of Garnet
Almandine - An iron-aluminium Garnet.
Almandine-Pyrope - Garnets intermediate between Almandine & Pyrope.
Rhodolite - A rose-red variety of Garnets from the Almandine to pyrope series.
Andradite - A calcium iron garnet.
Demantoid - A green variety of andradite.
Melanite - A black variety of andradite.
Topazolite - A yellow-brown variety of andradite.
Andradite-Grossular - Garnets intermediate between andradite & grossular.
Mali Garnet - Grossular-andradite type garnet from Mali, West Africa.
Grossular - A calcium aluminium garnet.
Hessonite - A golden orange to brown variety of grossular.
Hibschite - A grossular containing hydroxyl ions.
Hydrogrossular - A grossular containing hydroxide (OH).
Transvaal Jade - A compact green massive jade-like variety of grossular.
Tsavorite - An emerald-green variety of grossular.
Malaia Garnet - A variety of mixed composition from the Umba valley in Tanzania,
Pyrope - A magnesium aluminium garnet.
Chrome Pyrope - A violet chrome-bearing variety of pyrope.
Pyrope-Spessartine - Garnets intermediate between pyrope and spessartine
Umbalite - A light pink to purple pyrope, originally from the Umba River, Tanzania.
Spessartine - A manganese aluminium garnet.
Uvarovite - A calcium chromium garnet.
Knorringite – A magnesium chromium garnet. (bluish green)
Leuco Garnet – A colourless variety
Garnets are a group of silicate minerals mainly occurring in igneous & metamorphic rock of high pressure environments. Often found as alluvial deposits due to erosion. Garnet has six species consisting of Pyrope, Almandite, Spessartite, Grossularite, Andradite & Uvarovite, many varieties of these species exist.
All species of garnets have similar physical properties & crystal forms. The difference is in their chemical composition. Amongst all varieties there are numerous specimens of perfect clarity & transparency, sometimes combined with the deepest shade of colour. These are often cut as ornamental gems.
Garnet has many industrial uses, most commonly as an abrasive. Garnet sand mixed with very high pressure water is used to cut steel & other materials. Humans have utilised Garnet since the Bronze Age as both a gemstone & an abrasive. The name garnet comes from the 14th‑century Middle English word gernet, meaning dark red. This is derived from the Latin granatus, from granum ('grain, seed').
Metaphysical Properties
The prophecy stone. All Garnets are record keepers that bring forth ancient wisdom. Said to warn of danger Garnets energy field enhances one’s ability to connect to the divine, this increases intuition & psychic prowess. Garnet raises the bodies Kundalini, stimulating life force energy & fortifies the light body.
A chameleon stone that teaches how to shapeshift, blend & master alchemy. As a stone of universal connectivity it strengthens instincts with courage, tenacity & hope. A regenerative fire is found within Garnet as it brings understanding with direction, leading to the soul’s divine purpose. A powerful ally for those needing light in a dark situation. Garnet casts out negative energies replacing them with positive inspiration.
All chakras can be clean tuned & energized with Garnet. Once chakra alignment is achieved it centers & expands the body’s energy fields. This energetic movement makes Garnet an excellent manifestation tool. Another attribute is its ability to bring happiness with creative energy.
Garnet helps the ascension process by acting as a buffer between the physical realm & other worlds. Allowing for easier transition as one progresses through higher vibrational states. It bring grace, ease & understanding while emotional layers are being shed. Allowing the new self to grow unencumbered by karmic debt & attachments. Along with a powerful energy of loving compassion, the truth & beauty of the infinite self is seen when mediating with Garnet.
Crystal Healing
Assists with exhaustion, fatigue, immune disorders, depression, stress, boosts metabolism & detoxification.
Mineralogy
Group: Nesosilicate – Garnet Group
Crystal System: isometric/Cubic rhombic dodecahedron, icositetrahedron
Composition: Pyrope -Mg3Al2Si3O12
Almandine - Fe3Al2Si3O12
Spessartite (Spessartine) - Mn3Al2Si3O12
Andradite - Ca3Fe2Si3O12
Grossular - Ca3Al2Si3O12
Uvarovite - Ca3Cr2Si3O1
Form/Habit:Rhombic dodecahedron or cubic
Hardness: 6.5–7.5
Cleavage: Indistinct
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven, splintery & brittle
Lustre: Vitreous to resinous
Streak: White
Specific Gravity: 3.1–4.3
Transparency: Transparent to opaque
R.I: 1.72–1.94
Colour: All colours & rarely blue
Birefringence: None
Fluorescence: Variable
Pleochroism: None
Other Characteristics: Variable magnetic attraction
Varieties of Garnet
Almandine - An iron-aluminium Garnet.
Almandine-Pyrope - Garnets intermediate between Almandine & Pyrope.
Rhodolite - A rose-red variety of Garnets from the Almandine to pyrope series.
Andradite - A calcium iron garnet.
Demantoid - A green variety of andradite.
Melanite - A black variety of andradite.
Topazolite - A yellow-brown variety of andradite.
Andradite-Grossular - Garnets intermediate between andradite & grossular.
Mali Garnet - Grossular-andradite type garnet from Mali, West Africa.
Grossular - A calcium aluminium garnet.
Hessonite - A golden orange to brown variety of grossular.
Hibschite - A grossular containing hydroxyl ions.
Hydrogrossular - A grossular containing hydroxide (OH).
Transvaal Jade - A compact green massive jade-like variety of grossular.
Tsavorite - An emerald-green variety of grossular.
Malaia Garnet - A variety of mixed composition from the Umba valley in Tanzania,
Pyrope - A magnesium aluminium garnet.
Chrome Pyrope - A violet chrome-bearing variety of pyrope.
Pyrope-Spessartine - Garnets intermediate between pyrope and spessartine
Umbalite - A light pink to purple pyrope, originally from the Umba River, Tanzania.
Spessartine - A manganese aluminium garnet.
Uvarovite - A calcium chromium garnet.
Knorringite – A magnesium chromium garnet. (bluish green)
Leuco Garnet – A colourless variety