January Gem-Garnet
The name garnet originates from the Medieval Latin grantus, meaning pomengranite, in reference to garnet’s similarity to the fruit’s deep red color. Garnets have been used since the Bronze Age both as gemstones and as abrasives.
Garnet is a group made up of several minerals. Five of which are important as gems. Pyrope and Almandine range in color from purple to red. Spessartine features vivid oranges and yellows. Andradite consists of mostly yellow to green and features the rare garnet variety, demantoid. Grossular garnets feature the widest range of colors from colorless to reddish orange and the strong vibrant green of tsavorite.
Garnets are found in many different countries and regions around the world. Bohemia was the primary source of red pyrope garnets in Victorian times. Today, most of the world’s garnets are found and mined in Africa. Garnets are also found and mined in the United States, primarily in Idaho, Montana and New York; however they are also found in Arizona, Nevada, Massachusetts, Alaska and California. Idaho is famous for it’s unique star garnets, with some areas open for public digging.
Most garnets range in hardness from a 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which makes them a fairly hard gem. They are more prone to chipping and damage than sapphires, rubies and diamonds, so care must be taken when wearing them, especially in rings.
Unlike a lot of gems on the market today, most garnets are not treated to enhance color. However, a treatment called fracture-filling rarely is used to improve the clarity of the gem. Treated stones require special care and should not be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner. Use of a soft brush and soapy water is definitely a safe way to clean your gems.
*Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia.