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GARNET (ALMANDINE)
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Almandine Garnets are from a group of very
closely related aluminum silicates. The Chemistry for the Almandine variety
is Fe2/3+Al2Si3O12. These Garnets range in color from deep red
to brown and brownish black. The hardness ranges between 6-1/2 and
7-1/2.
ENVIRONMENT: Almandine occurs in diorite of plutonic rocks, and with
andalusite, hornblende, and biotite in hornfels and schist of contact and
regional metamorphic rocks.
OCCURENCE: Well-formed crystals of Almandine have come from Wrangell, SE
Alaska; from Emerald Creek, Benewah Co., Idaho; and from Michigamme,
Michigan. Gemstone quality material is obtained in large quantities
from Sri Lanka and India, where it is also cut; other sources are Burma,
Brazil, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Australia.
GEMSTONE INFORMATION: Most red garnets come under the name Almandine, even
when their composition is midway between that of Pyrope and Almandine and
similar, in many cases, to that of Rhodolite. The reason for this is the
similarity in their color and absorption spectrum characteristics. Almandine
has a brilliant luster, but its transparency is frequently marred, even in
very clear stones, by excessive depth of color. The cabochon cut is widely
used, often being given a strongly convex shape and sometimes a concave
base, in an effort to lighten the color by reducing the thickness. Rose cuts
have also been used, particularly in the past. Nowdays, when the material is
quite transparent, faceted cuts are used as well, and sometimes square or
rectangular step cuts. Gems of several carats are not uncommon.
Faceted or even
barely rounded pieces of Almandine, pierced as necklace beads, were very
common in the recent past, but are now considered old-fashioned.
NAME: The name Almandine comes from [carbunculus alabandicus,] after the
city of Alabanda in Asia Minor, where gems were traded at the time of
Pliny theElder.
LEGEND and LORE: All red Garnet has long been associated with love, passion,
sensuality and sexuality. Garnet is considered a birthstone for those born
in January:
"By her in January born No gem save Garnets should be worn; They will ensure
her constancy, True friendship, and fidelity."
MAGICAL PROPERTIES: The darker Garnets are associated with the Will and
the Source of Life Incarnate. This is who and what we are in this
lifetime. This stone is worn for protective purposes, and is thought to
drive off demons and phantoms.
HEALING: Almandine Garnets are used to heal skin conditions associated
with poor circulation. They improve vigor, strength and endurance.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Almandine Garnets are particularly effective when
healing "traumas" that are carried over from a past life and deal with
sexuality and heart/love problems.
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GARNET (SPESSARTINE)
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Spessartine Garnets are from a group of very
closely related aluminum silicates. The Chemistry for the Spessartine
variety is Mn3Al2Si3O12. These Garnets range in color from brownish red to
hyacinth-red. The hardness ranges between 6-1/2 and 7-1/2.
ENVIRONMENT: Spessartine occurs with albite and muscovite in granite
pegmatites and with quartz and riebeckite in blue schist or regional
metamorphic rocks..
OCCURENCE: Large corroded crystals of Spessartine have come from the
Rutherford No. 2 Mine, Amelia, Amelia Co., Virginia; crystals up to 1" in
diameter have been found in several pegmatites in the Ramona District, San
Diego Co., California; sharp, dark-red, well-formed crystals occur in
cavities in rhyolite near Ely, White Pine C., Nevada; and brilliant crystals
of Spessartine have been found with topaz at Ruby Mt., near Nathrop, Chaffee
Co., Colorado. Gem material comes from the gem gravels of Sri Lanka and
Burma. It is also found in Brazil and Madagascar.
GEMSTONE INFORMATION: The gem variety of Spessartine Garnet is uncommon.
It tends to be midway between spessartine and almandine in composition.
The "aurora red", orange-red or orange-pink color is typical. It has
good transparency and considerable luster. It is normally given a mixed,
round, or oval cut. The weight does not normally exceed a few carats.
Gems of about 10 carats are extremely rare and usually of an atypical,
rather dark, unattactive color.
NAME: Spessartine is named after an occurrence in the spessart district,
Bavaria, Germany.
LEGEND and LORE: In the 13th century garnets were thought to repel insect
stings. A magical treatise, "The Book of Wings", dating from the thirteenth
century says "The well-formed image of a lion, if engraved on a garnet, will
protect and preserve honors and health, cures the wearer of all diseases,
brings him honors, and guards him from all perils in traveling."
MAGICAL PROPERTIES: Spessartine is normally considered to be red-orange
to orange-pink. Thus it links the "will" with the "desire". It is a good
stone to use when casting a spell for your "heart's desire", especially
if it is of the orange-pink" variety.
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HEALING: The orange garnets are linked to the root and the belly chakra.
They are beneficial in instances of infertility, dealing with reproduc-
tive organs. Mentally, it inspires confidence in personal creativity and
self-worth.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Spessartine is not as effective as Carnelian for
instances of infertility. But it DOES help the mental attitude of the
individual experiencing the difficulty. It is a warming stone, and works
well for increasing circulation in the lower part of the body.
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GARNET (GROSSULAR)
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Grossular Garnets are from a group of very
closely related calcium silicates. The Chemistry for the Grossular variety
is Ca3Al2Si3O12. These Garnets range in color from yellow, pink and brown
through white and colorless. The hardness ranges between 6-1/2 and 7-1/2.
ENVIRONMENT: Grossular occurs with wollastonite, calcite, and vesuvianite in
hornfels of contact metamorphic rocks.
OCCURENCE: Being the commonest of all garnets, it is found in a variety of
locations. Fine colorless crystals up to 1/2" across occur in
Gatineau and Magantic Cos., Quebec, fine lusterous pale brown crystals 2616
up to 3" across were found near Minot, Androscoggin Co., Main, and
beautiful white and pick crystals up to 4" across have been found near
Xalostoc, Morelos, Mexico.
GEMSTONE INFORMATION: Grossular also has the typical crystal form of
garnets, occuring in isolated crystals which are often complete, in the
shape of a rhombic dodecahedron, sometimes combined with a trapezo-
hedron. They vary from transparent to semiopaque. The typical color is
light (gooseberry) yellowish green; but they can be a strong to bluish
green, honey yellow or pinkish yellow, or even colorless. When transpar-
ent, the crystals have good luster. Like other garnets, they have no
cleavage. The greenish to yellowish varieties are used as gems.
Grossular is not a rare mineral. The types used as gems mainly come from
the gem gravels of Sri Lanka (honey yellow variety); the the United
States, Canada, Mexico, Madagascar, Kenya. The green variety of grossular
garnet, discovered a few decades ago and found mainly in Kenya, near the
Tsavo National Park, is also known as Tsavorite (or Tsavolite) It is a
light, verdant, or dark green, similar to the color of the better green
tourmalines and sometimes, it is said, even comparable to African emerald.
It has good luster. These gems, which are usually given a round or
pear-shaped mixed cut, or occasionally a brilliant cut, are generally small,
rarely exceeding one carat and never more than a few carats.
NAME: Grossular is from the New Latin [grosssularia,] "gooseberry,"
because some Grossular crystals are pale green like the fruit.
LEGEND and LORE: I do not find anything referring specifically to yellow
or green garnets in my sources.
MAGICAL PROPERTIES: While deep red garnets focus on "Will" and orange--
red garnets focus on "Desire", yellow garnets are focused on Personal
Power and Personality. In addition they are (because of their color)
associated with athletic prowess and Oriental philosophies.
HEALING: Being linked to the Solar Plexus Chakra, yellow garnets are
energizing. They can be used for the digestive organs, the diaphram (and
the breath) and eyesight. Green garnets center their healing on the
Heart Chakra.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: It is difficult to find a green stone that works
well for the lower chakras and the lower half of the body. When I do
total layouts for individuals with Aids, I use all green stones,
whenever possible. The Green garnets work well for this. Since Garnet is
the stone of the Root Chakra, the Will, and green is the color of the
Heart Chakra, love, circulation, general healing, this stone works
exceptionally well. I find that the yellow garnets work better for
magical purposes than healing. For healing, there are several
yellow stones that seem to work better for me.
NOTES: Garnets are used in industry as an abrasive.
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