Garnets are a common mineral found in many metamorphic rocks. It is also sometimes found in pegmatites dikes and as grains in sedimentary deposits. The name garnet comes from the Latin word granatus which means "like a grain" in reference to the crystal form. There are many types of garnets as the chemistry varies widely. Grossular garnet include a wide variety of colors including white, green, yellow, and pale pink. The name comes from grossularia, the botanical name for the Gooseberry because of the similar pale green color of the first grossular garnets. Other types of garnets are: andradite, almandine, pyrope, spessartine, and uvarovite.
| Fe3Al2Si3O12 |
|
| Nesosilicate |
|
| Isometric |
|
| 4/m -3 2/m |
|
| 6.5-7.5 |
|
| 4.32 |
|
| None |
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| Conchoidal |
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| White, green, yellow, pale pink |
|
| White |
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| Vitreous, resinous |
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| Transparent/translucent |
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| Granular |
|
| Notable Localities: |
Wrangel, Alaska; Germany; Norway; India |
| Uses: |
Cut as a gemstone, abrasives |
Specimens:
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