Garnet, January's birthstone, is a fiery and beautiful stone. Garnet has had a place in history for centuries as a gemstone, talisman or sacred stone. More popular today than ever, some new varieties are only recently available. As garnets were historically thought to be able to stop bleeding, protect against poison and provide prosperity, it is no wonder this gemstone has remained popular and important for so long.
Gemology recognizes six common varieties of garnet each with their own distinctive characteristics. They are pyrope, almandine, spessartite, andradite, grossularite, and uvarovite. In addition to these six varieties, a number of other garnet varieties are distinguished in the gem trade based on their color or other special properties. All told, there are at least 17 different varieties of garnet.
Pyrope is the only garnet that is always a shade of red. Its dark blood red color is distinct and attractive, often resembling the color of ruby. Almandine garnets are also dark red and pyrope and almandine blend to make up the some of the most commonly seen garnets. Spessartite garnet in its purest form is light orange. When blended with almandine, spessartite garnets become orangish-red to reddish-brown in color. The highly sought after andradite garnet is quite rare. The dematoid variety of andradite is green due to its chromium content. Famed Russian jeweler Carl Fabergé used dematoids in many of his pieces. Grossularite garnets come in every color but blue, and red coloration rarely occurs in this variety. Uvarovite is the rarest of the garnet family, and, because of its chromium content, is green.
Garnets are a diverse mineral group with chemical and physical properties closely related to one another. All garnets are a variation on silica. Magnesium, calcium, iron, aluminum and chromium are present in various chemical compositions in the group of garnets. They are relatively easy to work with and the red color variety exists in ample quantities around the world.
Garnets are mined all over the world, but African countries are the largest source. India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Central America, South America and the United States also produce them. For each type, variations and subtypes can be found in any number of places across the globe. Igneous or metamorphic rock formations are where garnets form with alluvial deposits generally producing the highest quality stones.
Ancient legends hold that garnet could never be hidden, that even under clothing its glowing light would shine forth. Found in the ruins of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, garnet jewelry has been in use for centuries. It was believed garnet would protect its wearer from enemies and could illuminate the darkness. According to legend, Noah used a finely cut, glowing garnet to illuminate the ark and guide it safely through the darkness.
Because the gem is commonly blood red, during the Middle Ages it was believed that garnets could protect European knights against wounds and even bring the wearer a military victory. Many people thought the gem had medicinal purposes. Native American tribes used garnet jewelry and decorated their shields and dream catchers with the gems. In Japan and China the garnet was used to make bullets in the belief that garnets were deadlier than lead. For centuries garnets were carried by travelers to protect them from accidents. Ancient Persians considered it a "royal stone" and carved it with images of their kings.
Today garnet is famous for its use in the industrial workplace. It is heavily used as a coat for sandpaper and as an abrasive because garnet has no free silica and hence does not cause dust and silicosis in its industrial applications. Garnet is nontoxic and environmentally friendly.
Anyone acquiring garnet jewelry can be assured that the joy derived from this beautiful gemstone gift from nature will be long lasting and undimmed. Happy birthday to all our readers born in January!
