Garnets are popular because they are abundant, found in many varieties and can be very affordable or very exclusive depending on the variety. There is a species of garnet for every collector and it is a mineral that is so in habit, color, and locality of origin that it is a perfect theme for a specialized collection. Garnet is January’s birthstone and is very popular in jewelry since it is commonly very gemmy and always very hard. Garnet has been known since ancient times as a semiprecious stone- it is a stone with a deep history and lore.
Garnet is also popular because it can be found at many publicly accessible sites worldwide in great quantities. Some sites yield many kilograms of specimens with ease to even casual collectors using small hand tools. Their abundance and beautiful form makes garnet great to use in homemade crafts, especially wirewraps and as trading material. Garnet is one of the most common minerals in metamorphic rocks. Some localities for garnets are composed of many square kilometers of garnet bearing rocks. Garnets are very common accessory minerals found at copper, silver, gold, tungsten, tin, asbestos, and molybdenum mines. They have been found closely associated with many other precious and semiprecious gem minerals, particularly beryl, elbaite, amethyst, smoky quartz, jadeite, and vesuvianite.
Garnets are found in a dazzling variety of colors and form to suit every interest. From fiery orange spessartine to yellow green grossular to wine red almandine and beyond, there is a flavor of garnet for every personality. Some garnets even exhibit interesting optical effects like chatoyancy, iridescence, or even the color change effect though most of these strange varieties of garnet are very rare. Undoubtedly, there are many more great finds of garnets to be made. It is safe to say new localities for this gorgeous group of minerals are made very often! Keep an eye out or go exploring and make your own discovery!
