Garnets are a group of silicate minerals that can come in varying colours due to the chemical composition of each stone. Garnet is commonly found in metamorphic rocks as a ‘key indicator stone’ due to the fact that it can only form under certain heats and pressures. This means that it is usually found in ‘high grade’ metamorphic rocks such as schist and amphibolites. Due to its common occurrence worldwide, garnet has relatively low monetary value, but is still often used in jewellery.
It is also used as an industrial abrasive in the form of sand grains.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Colour
Colour: Garnet is mostly red but there are many variations such as:
- Pyrope: red/brown
- Almandine: red/purple or black/brown
- Spessartine: red/orange
- Grossular: red or green
- Andradite: all colours
- Uvarovite: dark green
Lustre: Vitreous
Hardness: 6.5 – 7.5
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
- Pyrope: Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
- Almandine: Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
- Spessartine: Mn₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
- Grossular: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
- Andradite: Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃
- Uvarovite: Ca₃Cr₂(SiO₄)₃
HEALING PROPERTIES
- Aids with courage
- All colours speed up healing processes
- Red garnets are extremely energizing
- Green are gently energizing
- All garnets have a warming energy
- Stabilizing
- Protecting
- Protects against nightmares
- Releases bad karma
- Aids with depression
- Helps with any blood related illnesses
CHAKRA
Root chakra (base of spine) and Heart chakra (centre of chest)
REFERENCES
- https://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/rocks_minerals/minerals/garnet.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garnet
- http://www.sandatlas.org/garnet/
- http://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/garnet/
- The Essential Crystal Handbook – Simon and Sue Lilly
- Kiara James