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RegisterGarnet are a form of neosilicates and are created from the elements of calcium, manganese and iron. Besides these elements, other elements do occur including chromium and titanium. Discount garnet can be found in crystal form or in a grainy form.
Cheap garnet are usually found as dodecahedral crystals, but are known also to form in trapezohedron habits. The crystalline structure is that of an isometric system, meaning they have three axes that are all equal in length and also considered perpendicular to one another.
Handmade garnet are usually hard minerals with a hardness score of 7.5 to 8 on Moh’s hardness scale; however it should be noted, they can still crack easily and will break into sharp fragments.
China garnet are found in a wide variety of locations including Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Canada and USA. In USA garnet has been obtained in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Florida, California and Virginia.
The majority of today's fashion garnet supplies come from Africa. Notable quantities of garnets have been also found in Czech Republic and Spain. The oranges and browns of Spessartite and Hessonite hail from Namibia and Sri Lanka.
The word garnet comes from the Latin word granatus which means grain. Garnets have two main uses, first they are used for ornamental jewelry and because of their crystal structure and attributes can be cut and shaped very easily. Garnets are also used as an abrasive, obviously in their grain form.
Ornamental jewelry
Pure crystals of garnet are usually used as ornamental jewelry. Garnets come in many different colors, but are most well known for their dark, rich red stones. Other colors that garnet can be found in are green, orange, yellow, brown, smoke, violet, purple, etc. The only color that garnet do not come in is blue.
