The following three articles about garnet were written by Stephanie Pflumm.
Garnets are an ancient gemstone, originally known as a carbuncle. Found all over the world, they make up a family of complex silicates with a wide variety of chemical compositions, but very similar crystal structures. Garnets form under the great heat & pressures that only metamorphic & igneous rocks can endure. Geologists may use garnets to gauge extreme temperatures & pressures in a specific area. Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, & aluminum are among the more common metals found in Garnets. Regardless of the chemical content, Garnets always grow in symmetrical, cube-based crystals. The basic trademark shape of this gemstone is the rhombic dodecahedron, a 12 sided crystal.
There are 7 main classes of garnets & 3 sub-classes. A description of each class follows this article. Colors in this gemstone range from dark blood reds to brilliant greens. Since these gemstones are so easy to find, (Italy, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Norway, Bohemia, Africa, India, Brazil, California, New Jersey, North Carolina & Arizona) they are not highly valued as a jewelry stone. Its value as a magical gem however, has a long & mythical history.
Garnets were believed to glow in the dark & Noah used a Garnet lantern to guide the ark at night. In both ancient Asia & the American Southwest, the Garnet was used as a bullet. It was believed that the gem’s blood red color would inflict greater damage.
Normally considered a January birthstone, Garnets also work well for those born under the sun signs of Aries, Leo, & Virgo. Garnets are associated with the base chakra and are often used to stimulate the Kundalini. They can open the flow of energy from the base to the Crown Chakra, awakening the Kundalini. In fact anytime you are working to control the flow of energies, Garnets are a wonderful ally. They can be used to store energy for later use, or assist in extracting negative energy & transmuting it into positive.
Garnets make a wonderful stone for business. They can implement creative powers & prevent chaotic & disruptive growth. This gemstone brings good news, builds cooperation & creates charisma. Use a Garnet to stoke your internal fires, strengthen your commitment & improve your self esteem. You may also use Garnets to promote success in your spiritual journey. Garnets help stabilize the connection between the spiritual & physical world. They help bring about balance by assisting you in controlling your personal energy flow.
For healing, Garnets may be used in treating ailments related to the spine. They are powerful in helping repair cellular structure in the heart, lungs & blood. They also help the body utilize minerals like iodine, calcium & magnesium & vitamins A,D & E.
Garnet Classes
Almandine - deep red color with heavy content of iron. Used in older Victorian era jewelry
Pyrope - fire red, often the largest growing garnets, contain magnesium
Rhodolite - reddish purple with excellent clarity, combination of iron & magnesium
Spessartite - orange to orange/brown, heavy mineral content of manganese
Grossular - a yellow garnet from Sri Lanka, mineral content is calcium
Hessonite - yellow/brown, related to Grossular & containing calcium
Tsavorite - a sparkling green containing chromium (like emeralds)
Andradite - black, no value as a jewelry stone, considerable spiritual value, combination of calcium & iron
Demantoid - a lively green but brittle & soft specimen, like Andradite, its mineral content is calcium & iron
Uvarovite - another emerald green garnet, though its color is not always consistent, contains chromium & calcium
This information was taken from ORE Features, a publication written by Stephanie Pflumm, reprinted with permission.
ORE's Featured Gemstone: Garnet
by Stephanie Pflumm
This is my second visit to the colorful garden of Garnets. This new venture into Garnet's kingdom has shown even more new siblings to add to its story.
Garnet's story is a multi-faceted one. The gemstone itself, crystallizes into an 8, 12, 24 and on rare occasions a 48 sided crystal. No other crystal I am aware of forms so many faces in nature. It's almost as if Mother decided to facet this beauty herself.
The chemical composition of the gemstone is also multi-dimensional. Not being a trained chemist or geologist, I am not sure I can explain this adequately, but here goes.
Garnet's chemical makeup is broken down into three brackets, like this: [Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn]3 [Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti, V]2 [Si04]3. Any single Garnet gemstone will contain some arrangement of the elements in the first bracket (Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese) combined with one or more of the elements in the second bracket (Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, Chromium, Titanium, Vanadium). When these elements conjoin, they will surrender electrons (bracket one gives up two, bracket two surrenders three). The final bracket (Silicon and Oxygen) remains constant throughout the Garnet family. The sharing of elements and compromising of electrons that takes place when forming a Garnet crystal creates a powerful chemical bond. Making Garnet one of the hardest gemstones available (only one notch below the Diamond at 7.5 on the hardness scale).
Garnet crystals can form under more than just one scenario. These gemstones have been created by volcanic activity (igneous) or through the intense changes and pressures brought about by platetonic collisions and movements (metamorphic).
Finally, the most fascinating aspect of Garnet's many facets is the rainbow of colors this gemstone can be found in. Once again, the sharing of elements pays off with a range of colors that spans from a pale pink to a brilliant green that will shame the finest Emerald. In between that range you'll find orange, brown, gold, yellow and red. Blue is about the only color Garnet has not been found it (yet).
Some Garnets are rare, like the green Tsavorite. Other siblings like Pyrope and Almadine (the reds) Garnets are plentiful and found throughout the world. It is mined in at least 14 of the 50 US states, plus Canada, Russia, Mexico, Africa, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, India, Czech Republic, Spain, Pakistan and Switzerland just to list a few.
Garnet is the most common name for this crystal family. It is believed to come from a Greek or Latin word granatum (G) or garnum (L), referring to the seed and/or grain-like appearance of small Garnet gemstones. Some scholars believe it is in reference to pomegranate seeds, which are also red in color. Traditional settings for red Garnets arrange the stones in tight curved rows, much like the seeds appear inside a pomegranate.
Carbuncle is an old German name for the crystal. It comes from the word karfunkel which refers to sparks from a fire. Many ancient traditions believed in Garnet's ability to illuminate the night or glow in the dark. Noah is supposed to have used a Garnet to light the dark nights aboard the ark.
There is a tale of a ruler from an island named Amboin. As a child a serpent gifted him with a very special Garnet. His parents were delighted with this valuable gift and showed their appreciation by feeding and providing shelter for the creature. According to the story, this gemstone sparkled with such fire that the stone could light up the whole room. A Siamese king allegedly acquired this mythical Garnet sometime in the late 1600s.
During the middle ages if you had to travel at night, you would carry a Garnet to help light your way through the darkness. Lion images were often carved onto the crystal to invoke extra protection for travelers against thieves and mischievous forest residents.
Egyptians appear to be the first to have used the Garnet in jewelry. Bracelets and drilled beads have been found in areas along the Nile dating back to 3100 BC. There is archeological evidence that both North and South America's original residents also used the crystal in ceremony and adornment. Some Asian tribes have used Garnets as bullets in a device that sounds like a combination between a bow and a sling shot. As a weapon, the gemstone pierces the skin easily and then is invisible in the blood of the victim, inflicting more damage. The stone has also been used on the battlefield to stop the flow of blood from a wound. European warriors set Garnets in their shields and hilts of their swords for protection against injury.
In 1878 a Henry Hudson Barton developed the first Garnet coated sandpaper. This plentiful gemstone was so successful as an industrial abrasive that today more than 110,000 tons are used in various applications. Two reasons for its success in business are the crystal's hardness allowing it to endure very high temperatures and pressures, allowing it to be retrieved and reused repeatedly.
Retrieving and recycling is an important lesson for humans. There can be a tendency to cast aside something that has been used and soiled. No one seems to want to take the time to cleanse the dirt and refresh the heart. Garnet teaches there is always time to wash the dust off our gemstones and reintroduce them to the Sun's and Moon's light. Clearing away old baggage and boxes to make way for new hopes and dreams is an important part of evolution. Garnet whispers change is good.
If you are lost in the darkness of sadness or depression, Garnets have long been prescribed for helping you rediscover life's little joys. As an instrument of Earth energies, it likes to work on projects from the ground up. Bringing you success, confidence and luck so that you naturally find your way back to happiness. Your Garnet crystal will encourage loyal friends and partners helping to enrich all the mundane aspects of your life.
Do you deal with high stress or critical situations frequently? Keep a Garnet in your pocket to promote courage, increase your endurance while helping you maintain an objective perspective. You can call on a Garnet to "power-up" your physical and mental energies when they are being worn down. When you are over excited, too much energy and nothing to do, use your crystal to absorb the excess to use later, like your personal "solar" battery. Energy workers, healer, readers, mental health workers, anyone working in a field that drains their batteries will benefit from this crystal's company.
In my personal opinion, you cannot use a stronger or more effective Base Chakra gemstone than the Garnet. This crystal is perfectly tuned to Mother's rhythm. It opens your base Chakra, allowing its energy to gently break through any blockages between the base and your crown. Preparing a perfect pathway for the energetic Kundalini and the flow of your creative fires. Especially fond of women, Garnet helps promote regular, healthy cycles.
Like many of the gemstones and metals that were popular during the middle ages, Garnet was believed to cleanse the body of toxins and to prevent poisoning. The gem's influence on the base Chakra also helps to promote healthier reproduction (and interest in practicing reproductive techniques). If Garnets have been exchanged between a couple that is trying to conceive, it can assist in a successful union.
A Garnet is recommended for patients facing a long recovery. The gemstone promotes the rebuilding and return of health starting in the cells. It may be helpful in healing broken bones and improving the circulatory system. These properties and healing traditions are those prescribed for Pyrope and Almadine Garnets. Next month we'll take a deeper look into the rest of the Garnet garden and examine siblings like the enviable green Tsavorite and Demantoid or the diverse Grossular group.
This information was taken from ORE Features, a publication written by Stephanie Pflumm, reprinted with permission.
ORE'S Featured Gemstone: Garnet
by Stephanie Pflumm
Almost everyone knows about Pryope and Almadine Garnets, the dark red to purplish maroon varieties. However, the Garnet garden is far more colorful than just this one shade. You can find this unique crystal in green, pink, orange, brown, lavender and their many variations. I wanted to take a closer look at this multi-dimensional crystal, here is some of the family history that I was able to dig up.
To assist you in navigating the following list, please note that:
STONES LISTED IN ALL CAPS represent a group or family of Garnet crystals
Stones listed in italics represent individual members of a group or family.
GROSSULAR includes several Garnet varieties and colors within itself. Grossular Garnets are Aluminum Calcium combinations and includes one of the newest and most desired green gemstones Tsavorite.
Tsavorite was discovered (simultaneously) by two different geologists, Campbell Bridges and Peter Morgan in the Tsavo National Park in Kenya Africa in 1968. Tsavorite has had a hard life. The geological forces that shaped this gemstone are also responsible for shattering many of the crystals. Specimens larger than five carats are extremely rare.
The coveted greens of Tsavorite come from Vanadium or Chromium inclusions. Miners regularly collect pods they call potatoes (because they look like that vegetable) that contain the gemstone surrounded by a layer of Quartz or Scapolite.
While its brilliant color has excited gemologists and jewelers, demand for Tsavorite jewelry has been low. However, this is good for smart consumers. Even though Tsavorite Garnet is rare, the lack of demand keeps the prices well below that of the more plentiful Emerald. An unusual situation in the gem business.
Deposits of Tsavorite are available in Tanzania, but the expense of retrieving the tiny crystal has kept mining companies from exploring the area's full potential.
Green Garnets like Grossularite, Tsavorite, Demantoid and Uvaroite are exceptional for connecting with Earth's energy. Garnet already shares a strong connection with our Earth Mother, the green varieties are especially tuned this planet's limitless love and boundless blessings for its children.
Uvaroite was discovered in Russia's legendary Ural Mountains by Sergei Uvarov. Like its triplet siblings (Green Garnet triplets - Demantoid, Tsavorite and Uvarovite), this Earth daughter is rare. She forms tiny crystals too delicate for anything but the admiration of our eyes and hearts.
If you have a weak heart, you may benefit from the company of one of the green Garnets.
Transvaal Jade is a trade name for a type of green Grossular Garnet that comes from Pretoria South Africa. Colors will actually range from a gray to a bright green.
Grossularite is more of a "catch all" name for green Garnets found throughout the world bonded by the chemical combination of Calcium and Aluminum. Most Grossularites are opaque and have little value to jewelers. Lack of market value does not detract from these crystals' eagerness to assist you in Touching Earth and healing your heart.
Combining green and dark purple Garnets creates a powerful energy bond that will greatly enhance your creative work and intentions. This same combination is recommended for healers that use Earth energies in their practice.
Hessonite is a Grossular Garnet that resembles the colors of the Sun, glowing from a brilliant yellow to a golden tan. The browner colors in this crystal are occasionally traded under the nickname cinnamon stone. Lighter colored crystals have been referred to as hyacinth or jacinth stones. The most valuable gemstones come from Sri Lanka, it is also available in Brazil, Canada, Madagascar and the US.
Use the brilliance of the yellow and golden Garnets to shine a light on your life's true purpose. If you have felt lost, let this crystal's light guide you to a more familiar path.
Xalostocite comes from the white Marble mines of Xalostoc, Mexico. This lovely pink Garnet is found within the Marble and a little difficult to mine.
The Calcium in each of these Grossular Garnet crystals makes them powerful healing aids. They will allow you to put your whole heart into your healing efforts without draining you of your own vital energies.
ANDRADITE is another group (though much smaller and less defined) of Garnets. The first Andradites were found in Brazil by a mineralogist named J. B. D'Andrada. This group of Calcium and Iron crystals are very prismatic (refract light) and when faceted result in a dramatic gemstone. Andradite Garnets often have inclusions of a mineral called Byssolite that create a comet like "imperfection" (aka horsetails) within the crystals.
Demantoid Garnets are possibly the most well known member of the Andradite clan. All Andradite Garnets have qualities that are similar to Diamonds (hardness, refraction, brilliance), but this inspiring green Garnet is the one that earned the trade name Demantoid (means diamond like). The rarest of the greens, Demantoids were only mined for about 30 years. First discovered in 1868 in the Ural Mountains of Russia, the only known source today for this gemstone is antique jewelry.
A new green Andradite Garnet has been coming out of Namibia, but some experts say they lack much of Demantoid's character and luster.
Melanite is an almost black Garnet that is used primarily for industrial applications. This opaque crystal is a powerful aura cleanser and can be used to clear sacred spaces. Melanite's clearing properties are intense enough to wipe out programming in other crystals. It is one stone that I do not recommend mixing with your other crystal tools.
Topazolite from the Andradite family is named for its yellows and golden colors (similar to the Hessonite). Most of the gemstones found in Brazilian and Argentinean mines are within this color range and traded under the name Tapazolite.
RHODOLITE gemstones are the pinkest of the Garnet crystals, with specimens ranging from bright pink to a raspberry lavender. Rhodolite Garnets are found in Africa, India and Sri Lanka. It is described as a combination of the Iron rich Pyrope and Almadine Garnets, known for their traditional dark maroon color. The actual chemical composition for Rhodolite is Iron and Magnesium with Aluminum. It is one of the rare Garnet gemstones that are found with Rutile inclusions that create a star effect across the surface of the stone.
Pink Garnets are wonderful companions for helping you restore your self-confidence. If you are healing from an illness that has left you weak, a rosy Garnet may be just what you need to rebuild your vitality.
SPESSARTINE OR SPESSARITE is a clan of Garnets composed of Aluminum and Manganese. These Garnet crystals were first found in Bavaria's Spessart Mountains. Crystals are available in colors ranging from a luscious warm orange to a rootbeer brown that almost glows.
Initially Spessarite Garnets were rare. A serious of discoveries that started in Namibia and eventually included Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, Myanmar and the US meant this crystal is now more readily available.
Malaia, Malayan, Mandarin are different trade names given to orange Spessarite gemstones.
Brown Garnet gemstones will assist you in your efforts to heal our Earth Mother. Orange Garnets can guide you through change by keeping your spirit uplifted and your confidence strong. They are beneficial in clearing the Abdomen Chakra, your source of will and determination.
This concludes your tour of the colorful Garnet garden. I hope that you have enjoyed the visit as much as I have. This powerful Earth crystal is eager to be your companion and helper on your Life's journey.
This information was taken from ORE Features, a publication written by Stephanie Pflumm, reprinted with permission.
African jade, also known as Transvaal Jade, and butter Jade are two types of green garnet mined in South Africa. African jade and butter jade jewelry are available at Sahar's Beaded Creations.
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