Physical Properties of Garnet |
| Uses |
gemstone, sand paper |
| Color |
wine red to reddish brown, yellow, green, black |
| Streak |
colorless |
| Luster |
vitreous |
| Diaphaneity |
transparent to translucent |
| Cleavage |
none |
| Mohs Hardness |
6.5 - 8 |
| Specific Gravity |
3.5 - 4.3 |
| Distinguishing Characteristics |
hardness, color, specific gravity |
| Crystal System |
isometric |
| Almandite, a variety of garnet from River Valley, Ontario, Canada. Specimen is approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) across. |
| Almandite, a variety of garnet from Lount Township, Ontario, Canada. Specimen is approximately 4-1/2 inches (11.4 centimeters) across. |
| Rhodolite, a variety of garnet, in mica schist from Jackson County, North Carolina. Specimen is approximately 3-1/2 inches (8.9 centimeters) across. |
| Andradite, a variety of garnet, massive with wollastonite from Willsboro, New York. Specimen is approximately 2-1/2 inches (6.4 centimeters) across. |
| A cabochon of spessartite garnet from Namibia. This gem is 1.8 carats, and approximately 7 millimeters by 6 millimeters. |
| Garnet cabochons. The 9 on the left are from Africa, and the single on the right is from Montana. All of these gems are approximately 7 millimeters across. |
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| Almandite, a variety of garnet from Madagascar. The sizes vary, and are approximately 1/4 inch to 5/8 inch (.64 centimeter to 1.6 centimeters) across. |
| Grossularite garnet from Chihuahua, Mexico. Specimen is approximately 1-1/2 inches (3.8 centimeters) across. |
| Grossularite garnet (or Rosolite) with Idocrase, from Xalostoc, Mexico. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across. |
| Grossularite garnet (or Essonite) from Eden Mills, Vermont. Specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across. |
| Grossularite garnet (or Essonite) from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. Specimen is approximately 1-1/2 inches (3.8 centimeters) across. |
| Spessartite garnet from Amelia, Virginia.
Specimens are approximately 1/2 inch (1.3 centimeters) across. |
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